A Central Florida man was recently sentenced for attempted murder in a Walmart shooting.
In the courthouse of the Honorable Judge Joel D. Fritton, 31-year-old Gavin Lee Minden was sentenced to 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections after pleading in his 2024 attempted murder case. Under Florida’s 10-20-Life law, Minden will serve his sentence day for day with no time gained or the possibility of being released earlier.
Minden was convicted of two counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm, Shooting at or Into an Occupied Vehicle, and two counts of Violation of a Domestic Violence Injunction.
“Shooting a firearm in public with the intent to kill human beings is a heinous crime – that is deserving of this 25-year minimum-mandatory sentence,” said Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie.
On April 8, 2024, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) dispatch center received a phone call in reference to a shooting that had just occurred at the Inverness Walmart. The caller indicated they and another individual had fled the parking lot after being shot at by the defendant.
Upon arrival, CCSO deputies began searching for the defendant. CCSO immediately deployed their air unit to assist in searching for Minden, where he was quickly located hiding near the edge of the woods near the incident location.
The two victims involved were located safely at another location. The first victim sustained a wound and was transported to the hospital for treatment while the second victim was uninjured. Further investigation revealed that Minden, who knew the victims, shot through the back window of the truck, striking one victim in the back of the neck.
Detectives obtained surveillance footage that showed the events leading up to the shooting, which occurred near the bus stop at the front of Walmart. The victim’s truck is seen approaching the bus stop and stopping near it. The shooting was not captured on camera, however, after a brief verbal altercation, the truck sped off with its window shattered.
Assistant State Attorney Kaitlyn Mannis successfully prosecuted this case.
