Feb. 12, 2026, 10:17 a.m. ET
- A man is suspected of killing two people in Fort Lauderdale before driving to Sarasota and killing four more people and himself.
- The suspect, Russell Kot, was reportedly in a romantic relationship with one of the Fort Lauderdale victims.
- This was the third mass shooting in Florida in 2026, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Florida saw its third mass shooting of the year after a man reportedly killed two people in South Florida and then drove more than 200 miles across the state to shoot four more people and then himself, officials said.
Police in Fort Lauderdale and Sarasota believe Russell Kot, 51, of Fort Lauderdale, likely performed all the killings, based on witness reports and surveillance of his vehicle.
Police responded to the Sarasota home just before 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10 where neighbors were attempting CPR on a male victim in the front yard who had been shot. Four more bodies, including the suspect, were found inside.
Fort Lauderdale police, responding to a wellness check around 1:30 p.m. the same day, found two adults deceased inside the home, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
During the investigations, Fort Lauderdale police alerted Sarasota officials that the shootings might be linked and provided information regarding Kot’s vehicle, which was located in the Sarasota neighborhood where the crime took place.
The suspect’s vehicle could be seen on a neighborhood Ring camera approaching the Sarasota residence just after 11 a.m. A Ring camera picked up gunfire soon afterward.
All the victims and Kot died of gunshot wounds, police said.
Who died in the Florida homicides?
The Fort Lauderdale victims have been identified as:
- Larisa Blyudaya, 46,
- Ben Azivov, 18.
The Sarasota victims have been identified as:
- Olga Greinert, 49
- Florita Stolyar, 66
- Anatoly Ioffe, 61
- Yaroslav Blyudoy, 39
- The suspect was identified as Russell Kot, 51
Authorities believe Kot had a romantic relationship with one of the Fort Lauderdale victims. It’s also believed one of the Fort Lauderdale victims was somehow connected to the Sarasota victims.
Mass shootings down in Florida, US
Despite the tragedy this week, mass shootings were down dramatically last year in the state (and the country) compared to previous years, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive, bringing them back in line with pre-pandemic numbers. The GVA defines a mass shooting as one that injures or kills four or more people, not counting the shooter.
There were 16 mass shootings in Florida in 2025, a 50% drop from the 32 reported in 2024, and the first time since 2019 the total has been under 25.
Nationwide, there were 408 mass shootings in 2025, per GVA data, a 19% decrease from the 504 shootings listed in 2024 and a 38.2% drop from the 690 reported in 2021.
Mass shootings in Florida continuing downward trend
Violent crime decreased overall in 2024, according to the FBI’s annual report. The number of mass shootings has been gradually decreasing since numbers spiked during the pandemic. According to the GVA, the number of mass shootings in Florida have been:
The GVA numbers, which have been disputed by pro-firearm organizations, may differ from the FBI or CDC as they collect data from more than 5,000 law enforcement, government and media sources, the site explains.
Florida opens up gun laws
The drop in mass shootings comes as the Florida has drastically loosened its laws on firearms.
Florida does not require a permit or license to buy a gun and does not require registration, and open carry became legal in September after a three-judge panel from the 1st District Court of Appeal declared Florida’s 40-year ban on it to be unconstitutional.
There is no limit on the number of firearms you can own or buy in a single transaction. Background checks are required and there is a three-day waiting period, although individual counties and cities may extend them up to five days.
How many mass shootings in 2026 happened in Florida?
As of Feb. 12 there have been three reported mass shootings in Florida, according to the GVA:
- Feb. 4, Jacksonville: Three women and a 17-year-old girl were shot and injured when a large group of people gathered in a dispute over a romantic relationship, police said.
- Feb. 8, Jacksonville: Four people were shot and injured at the Paxon Shopping Center.
- Feb. 10: Sarasota: Four people killed in a Sarasota residence by gunman who may be lined to a double homicide in Fort Lauderdale
How many people were shot in the US so far in 2026?
According to the Gun Violence Archive:
- 1,402 people died from all gun violence deaths in the U.S., including 19 children and 96 teens
- 2,265 people have been injured, including 52 children and 225 teens.
- 43 law enforcement officers have been killed or injured
- Law enforcement officers have killed 99 people and injured 152 in officer-involved incidents
- 91 people were killed in self-defense
- 136 people died from unintentional shootings
- 59 people died in murder/suicide incidents
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
