Crime
Suspect Joshua Voigt arrested after fatally shot his father and injured his mother on Highland Boulevard in Bartow
Records indicate that Joshua Voigt has a history of violent offenses.
UPDATE: Suspect Joseph Voigt, who shot and killed his father and shot his mother has been arrested by the Orlando Police Department and is in custody in Orange County. He has two charges as of now.
Bartow, FL – On Saturday, December 7, 2024, at approximately 11:18 p.m., first responders received a distressing 911 call reporting a gunshot victim with multiple wounds on Highland Boulevard. The caller, however, could not provide the precise location of the suspect.
Authorities later identified the suspect as Joshua Voigt, who allegedly fatally shot his father and critically injured his mother in a domestic incident.
Both victims were transported to Lakeland Regional Hospital for emergency medical care. Tragically, Voigt’s father succumbed to his injuries.
Records indicate that Joshua Voigt has a history of violent offenses.
On November 30, 2024, he was arrested for battery/assault but was released on bond.
Additionally, in October 2023, Voigt was arrested for firing a weapon in a residential neighborhood. He was also released on bond for that charge, which remains an active court case.
At 11:32 p.m., the suspect’s vehicle—a silver or gray Toyota Corolla with black rims and tinted windows—was spotted traveling northbound on Highway 17 near Lake Ship.
Responding to the developing situation, deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Winter Haven Police Department, and Polk County’s helicopter and K-9 units quickly initiated a search for the vehicle in the surrounding area.
Despite their efforts, the vehicle evaded detection in the Bartow area. However, at 12:24 a.m., the suspect’s car was reportedly seen near Orlando, prompting coordination with the Orlando Police Department to extend the search efforts.
Law enforcement officials are urging the public not to approach the suspect or the vehicle. Voigt is considered armed and dangerous.
Description of the Vehicle
- Make and Model: Toyota Corolla
- Color: Silver/Gray
- Distinguishing Features: Black rims and tinted windows
Authorities continue their search for the suspect, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
If you have information about Joshua Voigt’s whereabouts or spot the described vehicle, please contact law enforcement immediately. Dial 911 or reach out to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The safety of the community remains the highest priority. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity promptly.
BEND, Ore. — Rhoam Summer, 5, has been identified as the first reported victim of the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, where preliminary reports indicate that four victims, including three children and one adult, were killed. The 16-year-old suspect also died, bringing the reported death toll to five.
The shooting prompted a major law enforcement and emergency response Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, after Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Authorities described a large police presence at the school and urged the public to avoid the area.
Information provided in preliminary reports indicated that the children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. One teacher was also reported dead. Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified as the first victim publicly named in connection with the tragedy.
Authorities had not yet released the names of the other reported victims in the information available for this report.
According to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement, four victims died as a result of the shooting: three children and one adult. The suspected shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was also reported dead.
This brings the reported total to five deaths, including the suspect.
Reports indicated that two additional people were transported for medical treatment in critical condition. They were described as a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The reported casualties have not all been independently confirmed through a complete official victim list. Further information from law enforcement and medical authorities is needed to establish the final number of injured people and the conditions of those receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports identified the suspected shooter as a 16-year-old resident of Bend. The teenager was reportedly armed with a shotgun.
Scanner traffic and early reports indicated that a bystander, described as a Good Samaritan and possibly the father of a student, shot and killed the suspect. Reports also described the bystander as someone legally carrying a concealed firearm.
However, the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, including the identity and role of the bystander, require confirmation from law enforcement. These details should not be considered established facts until officials release an authoritative account.
Authorities had reported that the suspect was deceased, but further verified information about the sequence of events was not available in the preliminary reports summarized here.
Bend police issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday reporting an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend.
The initial alert provided limited information but warned residents of a large police presence and urged them to stay away from the area. Police, fire crews and emergency medical personnel responded to the school.
The incident triggered urgent safety measures as authorities worked to secure the campus, assess casualties and coordinate the emergency response.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced that a reunification site had been established at Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Families of students were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with their children.
Parents also received alerts indicating that nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, had been placed under lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement responded to the shooting.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School has left families and the Bend community facing a devastating loss. The reported deaths of three children and one adult, along with the death of the teenage suspect, have made the incident one of the most serious school emergencies reported in the area.
Investigators are expected to establish the sequence of events, confirm the identities of the victims, determine how the shooting unfolded and clarify the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.