Man charged in Lakeland murder | News

LAKELAND, Florida - A man with a lengthy criminal record has been arrested on charges he shot and killed a Lakeland man Dec 9th.

Devon Anthony Sykes, 22, of Winter Haven was booked into the county jail on counts of First Degree Murder and Attempted Murder in the death of Sean Anthony Williamson, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies found Williamson's body in the roadway at Swiss and Ponderosa when they responded to a call of shots fired in that area.

A friend of the victim was also shot in the attack, and drove away from the scene, leaving Williamson behind. He drove himself to the hospital and has since been released.

A spokesperson for Sheriff Grady Judd said Sykes previous arrests include resisting without violence, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, tampering with evidence, failure to appear, transporting dangerous materials while driving with a license suspended or revoked.