Two charged in Avon Park drive-by shooting

AVON PARK -- A pair of Sebring teenagers were arrested Saturday and charged with drive-by shooting in Avon Park the night before. 

The shooting, which occurred on Tulane Drive in Avon Park just before 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, didn’t injure the two people who were targeted, but did damage a truck. Witnesses identified 18-year-old Jatavian Tayshaan Holder as the shooter and 17-year-old Pyshon Wanyae Mathis as the driver of the vehicle. 

Holder and Mathis were arrested following a traffic stop in Sebring. Two handguns were found in the car, one of them a revolver that may have been the weapon used in the driveby. A search of Holder’s home on Katcalani Avenue in Sebring found another handgun with the serial number filed off as well as some marijuana and other drugs. 

Holder was charged with attempted homicide, firing a weapon from a vehicle, firing a deadly missile into a vehicle, possession of an altered weapon, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug equipment. Mathis was charged with attempted homicide, firing a weapon from a vehicle, firing a deadly missile into a vehicle, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a weapon by a juvenile. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Steve Worley at 863-402-7250 or detectives@highlandssheriff.org. Anonymous tips can be left with the Highlands County Sheriff’s office mobile app or at Heartland Crime Stoppers, 1-800-226-TIPS or www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com.

Note: Not all arrests result in convictions. Everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.