LAKE CITY, FL – A woman was shot Monday morning after encountering an intruder inside her apartment, prompting a large law enforcement response and a shelter-in-place alert in Columbia County.
At approximately 10:43 a.m. on January 5, 2026, Columbia County 911 received a report of a shooting on SW Michigan Street. Deputies arrived to find a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound, lying in the yard in front of an apartment complex.
For safety, deputies moved the victim into a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle and transported her to meet EMS. During transport, the victim told deputies she had returned home from shopping and entered her apartment, where she encountered a tall male dressed in dark clothing. She said the suspect then shot her.
Deputies immediately established a perimeter around the apartment complex and nearby streets as multiple agencies responded to assist. A shelter-in-place alert was issued through the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page and Columbia County Emergency Management systems.
Columbia County and Suwannee County SWAT teams later made entry into the apartment, but the suspect had already fled the area.
Investigators are asking residents in the areas of SW Marion Street, SW Ponce De Leon Avenue, SW Michigan Street, and SW Maryland Lane to review any doorbell cameras, home security systems, or dash cameras from Monday morning. Anyone who observed suspicious activity or has information related to the shooting is urged to contact the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at (386) 719-2005. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at (386) 754-7099 or online.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office thanked assisting agencies, including the Lake City Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol Air Unit, Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, the State Attorney’s Office, and Columbia County Fire and EMS.
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