Double shooting in Lake Wales leaves one teen dead, another hospitalized

LAKE WALES, Fla. - Lake Wales police are looking for two  "persons of interest" after a shooting overnight at the Lake Wales Woman's Club left a 16-year-old dead and another man hospitalized.

Officials say the club, located at 275 East Park Avenue, was being rented for a party and as the party was ending, a disturbance broke out on the stage. Witnesses said pushing and arguing quickly erupted into gunfire.

During the gunfire, police say 16-year-old Willie Demetrius Nimmons of Lake Wales was shot and died at the scene. Jarvis Connell Allen, 19, of Lake Wales was also shot and is in stable condition. Allen drove himself to the Lake Wales Medical Center following the incident.

Based on information police have received from witnesses, they are looking for three persons of interest related to the shooting:

The first person of interest is Dorale Desean Sermons, a black male, 25 years of age, whose last known address is 707 N. 6th St., Haines City, Fla. Sermons is described as being 6’ 2” tall, with short dark hair, and last seen wearing a billed beanie-style hat, a white t-shirt, and blue jeans. Police have been told Dorale Sermons commonly walks with a cane.

The second person of interest is Timothy Michael Sermons also known as “Marley”, a black male, 24 years of age, whose last known address is 707 N. 6th St Haines City, Fla. Timothy Sermons is described as 6 feet and has long dreadlocks.

The third person of interest who was located and taken into custody was Dontae Jaquan Yarbrough, 24.  he was questioned and released.

Police say all three persons of interest left the scene of the shooting in a 2007 Dodge Charger

Yarbrough was reported to have been the driver of the vehicle.

Anyone with information on this shooting, the location of the persons of interest, or the location of the vehicle is asked to contact Lake Wales Police at (863) 678-4223 or Polk County Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477. Detective Michael Yodonis is the lead investigator and he can be reached at (863) 678-4223 extension 276.