Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) detectives have arrested and charged 16-year-old Jonathan Granados of Lakeland, a convicted felon, with multiple new felonies, including attempted first-degree murder, after he allegedly planned a fight via social media, showed up with a firearm, and opened fire on another teen’s vehicle. Thankfully, no one was injured in the shooting.
The investigation began on April 2, 2025, when PCSO received a call from True Roofers on North Frontage Road after employees discovered spent shell casings on the ground. Security footage showed a silver Chevrolet Malibu arriving, followed by an unidentified man approaching the car on foot and shooting at it multiple times before the car fled and the suspect ran away.
Detectives identified the Malibu’s driver as a 19-year-old from Lakeland. On April 9, deputies stopped the Malibu, and detectives interviewed the 19-year-old, who initially lied about the incident, claiming his car was shot while parked at his home. Confronted with video footage, he admitted being at True Roofers for a pre-arranged fight, but would not identify the shooter.
Further investigation, including search warrants for the Malibu and the 19-year-old’s cell phone and social media accounts, revealed an Instagram group message thread. The conversation showed the victim heading to Granados’ house, then diverting to True Roofers due to law enforcement presence. The victim sent a photo of the business’s fence, stating he would “jump it,” and was seen on surveillance peering over. Other communications mentioned seeing law enforcement near Granados’ home and someone suggesting to “shoot the crib” (Granados’ house), to which the victim responded he was unarmed.
Granados was positively identified as one of the Instagram users in the group chat and by witnesses shown the surveillance video of the shooting.
According to the affidavit, Granados, “with forethought and planning, arranged for a confrontation” and then “utilizing ambush tactics, approached [the victim] and discharged a firearm, in an attempt to kill [the victim].” The gunfire struck the victim’s silver Chevrolet Malibu and the True Roofers business.
Detectives also learned that Granados was on Conditional Release for a prior carjacking conviction at the time of the shooting.
When detectives arrested Granados at his home on the warrant, a search of the residence uncovered a loaded Glock Model 19 9mm handgun with an extended magazine containing 28 rounds. The firearm was modified with a “switch,” illegally converting it to fire in a fully automatic fashion. Granados admitted owning the gun, ordering the switch online, and installing it himself, reportedly telling detectives that when shooting it he “felt like Superman.”
Sheriff Grady Judd commended his detectives: “I am so proud of my detectives, who left no stone unturned until this case was solved and the suspect was appropriately charged. This violent teenaged suspect, who has already been convicted of a felony, played a very dangerous game so he could ‘feel like Superman.’ If he’s Superman, then my detectives are his Kryptonite.”
Granados faces the following charges:
- Attempted first degree murder (Felony)
- Shooting into an occupied vehicle (Felony 2)
- Shooting into a building (Felony 2)
- Possession of a machine gun (Felony 2)
- Possession of a firearm/ammo by an adjudicated juvenile (Felony 2)
- Giving false info to law enforcement (Felony 3)
- Discharging a firearm in public (Misdemeanor 1)
- Violation of probation (Misdemeanor 2)
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