A late-night shooting in Florida has left one man seriously injured and another behind bars after a love triangle reportedly turned violent. Police say the accused opened fire after discovering that the woman he had been dating was also involved with another man, leading to a shocking confrontation outside her home.
Shooting reported in Palm Beach County
The suspect has been identified as Jailen Tyree Lewis, a 22-year-old Florida resident. He was arrested this week and is facing serious charges, including first-degree attempted murder, aggravated battery, and discharging a firearm in public.
According to investigators from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a shooting scene around 2:42 a.m. on Wednesday in the Hypolexo West subdivision. This residential area is located about 75 miles north of Miami.
When first responders arrived, they found an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his lower body. Emergency medics treated him at the scene before taking him to Delray Medical Center for further treatment.
Details of the victim’s injuries
Hospital staff later informed detectives that the victim had been shot several times. His injuries included:
• A gunshot wound to his left lower leg, affecting the tibia or fibula
• A bullet wound to his right ankle
• Shrapnel injuries that caused a deep cut to his knee
Despite the severity of the injuries, the victim was conscious and able to give a sworn statement to police about what led up to the shooting.
What happened before the gunfire
The victim told officers that he had been dating the woman involved “on and off” for nearly six years. On the night of the incident, he went to pick her up from the McDonald’s where she worked, only to learn she had already left. After exchanging text messages, he decided to drive to her home instead.
When he arrived, he noticed a grey SUV parked outside the house. His girlfriend was sitting in the passenger seat, speaking to the driver. As the victim approached the vehicle, she reportedly waved him away several times and told him to leave. He then went inside the house to wait.
A short time later, the SUV drove off but soon returned. As the victim stepped outside and walked toward his own car, he was confronted by a man he did not recognise.
According to the affidavit, the man was shouting angrily and questioning why the victim was at the house. It was at that moment the victim realised that the woman was dating both of them at the same time, something he said he had no idea about until then.
Gunfire erupts outside the home
Police say the man from the SUV, later identified as Lewis, pulled out a handgun and fired several shots at the victim. The victim was struck twice before Lewis fled the area in his vehicle.
Investigators noted that Lewis was also reportedly unaware that the woman he believed was his girlfriend was seeing someone else.
The woman later confirmed to police that both men were upset when they first encountered each other, but she said there was no physical fight. She stated that the victim’s final words to Lewis before walking away were, “If you want her, you can have her.”
Arrest and additional charges
Authorities tracked Lewis down later that day at around 12:15 p.m. He was found inside a Nissan Rogue and taken into custody without incident. While much of his police interview has been redacted, court records show that he admitted to certain details. The firearm used in the shooting has not yet been recovered.
Lewis is currently being held at the Palm Beach County Jail. He was denied bond due to a separate pending case from December 2024, where he is accused of reckless driving, nearly hitting a pedestrian, and crashing into two police vehicles. He is expected to stand trial in that case next month.
