On a day honoring a man of peace and nonviolence, multiple people were shot Monday afternoon in Fort Pierce in what is now a murder investigation, according to Sheriff Ken Mascara.
“Today, Chief Deputy Hester and I were honored to be in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade along Martin Luther King Blvd. Sadly, within hours of that parade ending, we are investigating a shooting in a county park located at Avenue M and 13th Street in which eight people have been shot,” Mascara said.
Here's what we know so far.
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Was there a shooting during the MLK parade in Fort Pierce? Where did the shooting happen?
According to the St. Lucie Sheriff's Office, the incident happened around 5:20 p.m. during a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at Ilous Ellis Park in Fort Pierce, a community north of West Palm Beach, a few hours after the parade had ended.
What was the Martin Luther King Day celebration at Ilous Ellis Park in Fort Pierce?
The celebration was the 772 MLK Car Show & Family Fun Day. The event advertised live music, a kids bounce zone, a car show and more to honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
St. Lucie County Chief Deputy Brian Hester said there were over 1,000 people at the event. Video circulating online seems to show people running from shots at the park.
How many people were hurt in the MLK Day shooting in Fort Pierce?
Eight people were shot and four others — one of them a child —were injured fleeing the scene, Tonya Woodworth, sheriff's spokesperson, confirmed to TCPalm Monday evening. All eight of the shooting victims, who were all adults, were taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital. One of the victims, who had been in critical condition, died the next morning, the sheriff said.
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Who was killed in the MLK Day shooting in Fort Pierce?
One of the people shot, 29-year-old Nikkitia Bryant, was critically injured and died at the hospital Tuesday morning, Hester said. The Fort Pierce native had been at the party with her 9-year-old daughter, he said, and was hit with a stray bullet.
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How many shooters were there in the MLK Day shooting in Fort Pierce?
There was at least one shooter involved, Hester said, adding he believes there was more than one shooter. In a release Monday evening the Sheriff's Office said the incident was "a disagreement between two parties," but this was later amended to be among "documented gang members."
Why did someone open fire and start shooting at a MLK Day Celebration in Fort Pierce? Was it a gang-related shooting?
The incident arose from a dispute between two rival Fort Pierce gang member, according to Hester, but he stressed it wasn't two gangs showing up to fight.
"There were over 50 shell casings that were recovered from the scene from three different calibers of weapons," he said in a video posted to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. "Let me be clear that our detectives are working around the clock. This is a priority for us."
Has anyone been arrested for the MLK Day shooting in Fort Pierce?
Not as of Friday, Jan. 20. On Wednesday, Hester identified Frederick L. Johnson Jr., 27, as a person of interest detectives want to question. Johnson has a felony warrant related to violation of probation, and surrendered to authorities Wednesday at the Sheriff's Office, an official said.
If you have any information related to this incident, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office would like you to please contact detectives at a line set up just for this investigation: 1-772-462-3230. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477.
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Contributors: Olivia McKelvey, Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers
C. A. Bridges is a Digital Producer for the USA TODAY Network, working with multiplenewsrooms across Florida. Local journalists work hard to keep you informed about the things you care about, and you can support them by subscribing to yourlocal news organization.Read more articles by Chris hereand follow him on Twitter at@cabridges