Florida business partners die after shooting each other in workplace dispute, police say

Two Florida men killed each other in a fatal shootout at their joint business.

The shooting took place Thursday afternoon at their business located at 3135 US 92 East in Lakeland, Florida. Although the Polk County Sheriff’s Office did not release the company’s name, a Google search shows Service On Site of Central Florida Inc., an auto service company, at the address.

Business partners Akeido Bennett, 31, and Xavier Figueroa, 39, shot each other, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Bennett is said to have died at the scene of the shooting, while Figueroa tried to leave the company in his truck, but later died from a gunshot wound.

“This was a preventable tragedy resulting from a disagreement between business partners,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. “We all have an obligation to our friends, our families and society in general to talk about things instead of resorting to violence. These men would still be alive today, and their families would not be grieving had they been able to resolve their differences civilly.

Deputies said an investigation into the shooting was ongoing.