Two victims remained critically injured Sunday as investigators searched for suspects and tried to determine what triggered the gunfire.
SANFORD, Fla. — Eight adults were wounded Saturday night when gunfire erupted during a family gathering on Poplar Avenue, leaving two people in critical condition as investigators searched for whoever opened fire and worked to determine what caused the shooting, police said.
Sanford police received a 911 call reporting a shooting with injuries at about 9:54 p.m. Sept. 19 near West 10th Street and Poplar Avenue. Officers arriving in the area found multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds. Police first reported that at least six people had been shot, including two critically injured victims, before raising the confirmed total to eight on Sunday. Authorities later said all eight victims were adults.
The shooting happened as relatives and friends gathered outside to remember Zi’Erric Wynn, who died in a car crash in 2020, according to his grandmother, Shirley Wynn. She told local reporters that the gathering was held in remembrance of her grandson around the sixth anniversary of his death. She estimated that between 200 and 300 people had attended during the evening.
Wynn said people had been talking and spending time together when gunfire suddenly interrupted the gathering. She said the first sounds were mistaken for fireworks before those attending realized shots were being fired and scattered for cover. Wynn estimated hearing roughly 20 to 30 shots, although police had not released an official count of the gunfire as of Sunday night.
Investigators spent hours examining the area after the shooting. Crime scene tape remained around the neighborhood into Sunday, and local television footage showed investigators working along the street. WESH reported that at least 43 evidence markers had been placed near the scene and that investigators examined vehicles that appeared to have been struck by gunfire. Police had not publicly detailed what evidence was collected or said whether any weapon had been recovered.
Authorities also had not determined publicly whether one person or several people fired into the gathering. Sanford police Public Information Officer Nicole Brown said during the early investigation that multiple shooters were possible but had not been confirmed. Police described the circumstances as appearing to be an isolated incident and said the scene had been secured, with no continuing threat identified for the surrounding community.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office assisted Sanford police with the response and investigation. Authorities had not identified a suspect, announced an arrest or disclosed a possible motive by Sunday night. Police also had not said whether a particular person at the gathering was believed to have been targeted or whether a dispute or confrontation took place before the shooting.
Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said detectives were continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violence. “Our investigators are still working diligently to understand what caused someone to commit such a violent act,” Smith said in a department statement. Police have not released the names of the wounded, and detailed medical information about six of the eight victims had not been made public. Two victims continued to be described as being in critical condition Sunday night.
The shooting drew a response from residents and faith leaders in Sanford on Sunday. Members of Second Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church prayed for those who were wounded and their families as the investigation continued. Wynn described the gathering as a celebration of her grandson’s life and said the violence was at odds with the purpose of the event and the way her family remembered him.
No arrests had been announced as of Sunday night. Sanford police continued to investigate who fired the shots and what led to the attack, while a $5,000 reward was being offered for information leading to an arrest. The number of shooters, the motive and the longer-term conditions of the wounded remained unresolved.
Author note: Last updated September 20, 2026.