Y’all ain’t got no ribs? BANG! BANG!

By ABC7 Staff | December 30, 2019 at 12:09 PM EST - Updated December 31 at 8:49 AM

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A brother and sister are facing charges of attempted murder after a drive-by shooting in Sarasota.

Police say shortly before 3:15pm on December 22, near the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Maple Avenue, the victims had stopped their vehicle in the roadway and were speaking with a person selling ribs along the roadside to find out if there were any left.

According to the victims, the two people in the vehicle behind them, later identified as 23-year-old Rajanique Graves and 17-year-old James Phillips, who are brother and sister, became angry.

After learning the ribs were sold out, the victims continued forward and when they reached Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Coconut Avenue, the victims say Phillips pointed a large gun out of the window of his vehicle and fired two shots at their vehicle.

One victim, who is pregnant, was struck in the left forearm and the bullet continued through her arm into her stomach.

After the shots were fired, the suspects fled.

The victims called 911 and had friends drive them to the hospital. Both are expected to survive their injuries.

Police say Phillips and Graves were arrested without incident during a traffic stop on Friday, December 27 near the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and U.S. 301.

Both were transported to the Sarasota County Jail.

Phillips is facing charges of Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. Graves is facing charges of Principle - Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Principle - Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle and Principle - Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. These are Principle charges because Graves is believed to have been the driver of the vehicle.

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2019/12/30/brother-sister-charged-with-attempted-murder-sarasota-drive-by-shooting/

Link at knuckledraggin.com

Friday night Florida lights

Last night my wife, our oldest son, our daughter and I took in Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, managed growths of native Florida, tropical and sub-tropical plants, and epiphytes. For Christmas, the place was lighted in holiday style.

The journey through leafy jungle plants and stands of bamboo was similar to walks I experienced 50-plus years ago, but this time much more safe. The previous walks I enjoyed as well, viewing plant types I had seen only in movies.

I remember a morning in armored cavalry assault vehicles (ACAVs), moving along a dirt road and coming upon a sight people would have paid money to see – off to the right front morning, mist rising from a narrow stream, drifting through large leaves of tropical plants. The mist would burn off as temperatures became warmer and then hot, but for a few minutes, the scene was of peaceful tranquility.

On parts of the walk through Selby Gardens, Sarasota Bay is visible, with thirty or so sail boats of various sizes anchored. I mentioned that the scene would be better if the long bridge were gone. “Oh, no,” my daughter said. “That’s the way I get to work.”

Progress. The world depends on it.

Gator guard part 2

The alligator popped up when the dogs were out late this afternoon.

“Is that it?” Priscilla said after we had had the dogs out about five minutes.

I looked around and saw only some floating green stuff, washed into the pond by last night’s rain.

“Over there,” she said, pointing.

I looked. Sure enough -- a large floating reptile. The alligator was showing the most of itself I had yet seen, half the snout and half its body above the surface. If its display was to get attention, it was successful.

We watched it move slowly from right to left. The five dogs were oblivious.

The alligator made a 60-degree turn toward us when about halfway across the pond. It was about 20 feet from shore.

“We’re going in,” Priscilla said. She gathered the dogs. I followed.

When we all were inside the lanai, I looked back at the pond. The alligator floated on the same course, about 10 feet from shore.

Adventures in Florida.

Entering Florida

A good bit of northern Florida looks like parts of Northeast Texas -- same kinds of trees, same look to the pastures. I wonder if the land composition is the same?

One thing much different -- billboards for guns. Numerouser and numerouser here in Florida than in Texas. And Texas is considered a gun-owner-friendly state. Other similarities, neither state has a state income tax; both had a Bush as governor.

I mentioned the gun billboards to my daughter. She laughed and said, "It's the wild, wild West here."

About 15 years ago, my wife drove from Northeast Texas to Miami. "I was surprised at the corn," she said. "There were corn fields everywhere."

There are billboards advertising naked ladies, too. "Risk Cafe" and "Bare Necessities." And, Florida has an almost Texas-amount of cattle.

My wife and I decided the Sunshine State needs a new motto: Corn and Cattle, Guns and Whores.

Hey, it is the Wild, Wild West.