Auburndale, Fla. (970 WFLA) - Polk County deputies arrested two brothers they accuse of driving around in a stolen truck and shooting at occupied vehicles Friday night.
According to a news release from the Sheriff's Office, "deputies arrested 25-year-old Shawn Whitten of Sand Mountain Loop in Auburndale, and his brother 19-year-old Brett Crosby of Woodland Avenue in Lakeland, after the pair drove around in a stolen truck, shooting at occupied vehicles, before crashing the truck and fleeing."
One vehicle had a woman and her three children, ages 6, 5, and 1 year old, inside. The other two had only their drivers in them.
"Thanks to our cooperation with the Auburndale Police Department, a tight perimeter, and people who saw something, and immediately said something, we took these brazen brothers into custody before they killed someone," said Sheriff Grady Judd, according to the release. "It is a miracle nobody was shot."
They are both being charged with 6 counts attempted murder with a firearm, among other charges. Whitten has an extensive criminal history, the Sheriff's Office said. Crosby had not yet been booked in jail Saturday morning, due to the fact he had to be transported to the hospital after his arrest for a suspected drug overdose.