Longwood, FL - A suspect in a drive-by shooting case now faces additional charges related to child pornography after authorities discovered a connection between the shooting and a disturbing cache of illegal materials on the suspect's phone.
An investigation began when Longwood police responded to reports of a shooting on August 7th around 6:09 p.m.
A juvenile victim reported hearing five gunshots while walking in the area.
The victim identified 20-year-old Anavay Lalwani as the driver of four-door sedan speeding east on Lormann Circle at the time of the shooting.
A subsequent investigation found bullet holes on the north side of a residence on Lormann Circle, and it was confirmed that some projectiles had penetrated the house.
Witnesses reported seeing a passenger in a silver sedan firing a black handgun at the residence.
The connection between the shooting and a physical altercation the victim had with Lalwani earlier that day prompted a significant turn in the case as police uncovered camera footage and a license plate reader report, placing the suspect's vehicle in proximity to the shooting.
On August 14th, Lalwani was pulled over in a gray Hyundai Elantra by Orlando police.
She denied her involvement, but later admitted to being present during the fight and shooting, claiming that no one fired a gun from her car.
A search warrant on August 15th led to the seizure of a black iPhone. Lalwani later contacted the police, demanding her property's return. She left a voicemail stating that the phone contained a video of a "pedophile engaging in sexual conduct, including sexual intercourse with a minor child."
The phone was handed over to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office digital forensics unit, which discovered its connection to the neighborhood during the shooting. It also contained explicit materials showing "sexual performance of a minor."
Longwood police, in collaboration with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, arrested Lalwani in connection with the drive-by shooting and the "voluminous amount of child pornography." She is also accused of sharing the illicit material with at least one other person.
Lalwani has been transferred to the Seminole County jail, where she is being held on a bond of $336,000 for charges of firing into an occupied dwelling, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, 18 counts of obscene communication electronic transmission of child pornography, 18 counts of possession of child pornography, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.