ONE OF THEM IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION. But we've had a lot of meetings in the community, a lot of collaboration where we just seem to meet to meet and there are never any solutions that we walk away with, that we can implement.". They were just standing wherever they were standing when the incident broke out, and were hit by stray bullets, he said. "I'm always going to believe that.". 5 min read. A shooting that left one woman dead and several others injured at a Fort Pierce park shouldn't be quickly forgotten. Deputies believe the deadly mass shooting during a Martin Luther King Jr. event in Fort Pierce that left 11 people wounded on Monday is gang-related. 1 dead, 11 others expected to survive after MLK Jr. Day mass shooting in Fort Pierce. DeSantis wont reform Florida gun laws, bats down Democrats demand for special session. There isn't a firm definition. And more people hurt or killed. I WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO YOU. WPBF 25 sat down with students in the after-school program "End It" to get their thoughts on what needs to happen. Authorities believe there were at least two shooters, and the incidentwasn't a "random act of violence.". Mass shootings in the U.S.:How many mass killings were there in 2022, and how does that compare with other years? There were 35 murder-suicides. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office confirmed that eight people were shot during an MLK Jr. Day event in Fort Pierce Monday. As family, friends and community members made their way into St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church to pay their respects, Bryant was brought to the church by a carriage pulled by white horses. The organization was born out of a town hall meeting after St. Lucie County'sfirst Black judge, Ralph Flowers, told Lee gun and gang violence were on the rise and something needed to be done. A shooting at Ilouis Ellis Park in Fort Pierce after car show on Martin Luther King Jr. Day leaves 7 injured, 1 woman has died . Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News. MLK Day mass shooting:Woman dies after being shot at MLK Day car show in Fort Pierce, sheriff confirms. The incident . 'A lot of blood':Witnesses describe 'scary' scene in which 8 shot at MLK Day event in Fort Pierce. This is a priority for us.". FORT PIERCE The woman who died after a shooting incident on Martin Luther King Jr. Day was identified Wednesday as 29-year-old Nikkitia Bryant, of Fort Pierce, as two of seven others struck by gunfire remain hospitalized, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office. Arrests are needed for closure. Here is an update from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office . South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. He identified Frederick L. Johnson Jr., 27, as a person of interest detectives want to question. One woman is seen running to safety while holding a baby.Video below: A look at the sceneThe sheriff's office says two deputies were at the event on a detail and were able to respond to the incident right away. Detectives with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office identified 27-year-old Frederick Lamar Johnson, Jr. as a person of interest in the shooting at a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration in . A 30-year-old woman has died following a shooting that broke out between rival gang members during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in Fort Pierce, sheriff's officials said Tuesday. Today, Chief Deputy Hester and I were honored to be in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade along Martin Luther King Blvd. FORT PIERCE, Fla. Eight people were wounded, including one critically, in a shooting that occurred during a car show at Ilous Ellis Park on Martin . All eight of the shooting victims, who were all adults, were taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital. More than 50 shell casings were recovered from three different calibers of weapons. The mass shooting at a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in Fort Pierce has people asking questions about the safety of large, holiday events, and how you can keep yourself and your family safe. A shooting that left one woman dead and several others injured at a Fort Pierce park shouldn't be quickly forgotten. No arrests have been made at this time.WPBF 25 News was the first local news crew at the scene.Video below: Live report from the scene Related: 1 dead, 11 others expected to survive after MLK Jr. Day mass shooting in Fort PierceThis is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. DeSantis orders investigation into Orlando shooters criminal history, Forecast: Slightly warmer with clear conditions, Everything is burnt: Family speaks after home lost in Collier Co. wildfire, Manatee distressed from red tide rescued in Lee County, New Florida bill would impose restrictions on gender-affirmative care, North Port man crashed through FHP homicide investigation. Media/News Company. FORT PIERCE, Fla. Eight people were wounded, including one critically, in a shooting that occurred at Illouis Ellis Park near Avenue M and 13th Street on Monday night, the St. Lucie County Sheriffs office said. FOX 4 MORNING NEWS M-F 6-11AMSAT/SUN 7-9AM. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com. Since then, the initiative has worked on fostering community pride, supporting other programs aimed at preventing prevent gun violence and creating youth-mentorship programs. OUR CARBONARA JOINS US LIVE FROM IT ALL HAPPENED. After the site at 311 Indian River Drive is fully developed with a . Hester implored those with information to come forward, asking people to call 772-462-3230 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-TIPS. St. Lucie County Sheriff's office has confirmed eight people were wounded and one person is in critical condition after a shooting occurred during a car show at Ilouis Ellis Park on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A petition in opposition to the development now has more than 2,000 signatures, while other Fort Pierce residents express excitement 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays Watch Now The person of interest in the deadly mass shooting that left a mother dead and 11 others wounded during a Martin Luther King Jr. event in Fort Pierce turned himself in Wednesday. She was an innocent bystander.. Hester said he didnt think any of those struck by gunfire were involved. @stluciesheriff says there was a shooting. YOU CAN PEOPLE RUNNING, OTHERS HIDING BEHIND CARS. FORT PIERCE The woman who died after a shooting incident on Martin Luther King Jr. Day was identified Wednesday as 29-year-old Nikkitia Bryant, of Fort Pierce, as two of seven others struck by . The event 772 MLK Car Show & Family Fun Day advertised live music, a local car show, kids bounce zone and more to honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from noon to 6 p.m., a calendar listing said on the City of Fort Pierce's website. I see people running in all different directions. Many of the . Fort Pierce Commissioner Michael Broderick at a Fort Pierce City Commission meeting Tuesday asked if the city could add to the $5,000 reward offered by the Florida Sheriffs Association for information leading to arrests. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "You will be truly missed. Bang,'" said Charlie Frank Matthew, a witness. THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE AT NINE. FORT PIERCE, Fla. . AT least eight people have been shot with one in critical condition after gunfire rang out at an MLK family event. We have to believe there is a system that will curb violence," she said. More people running. Read more articles by Chris hereand follow him on Twitter at@cabridges, Fort Pierce Florida MLK Day shooting: 1 victim has died, sheriff says. It was kids, there were bounce houses, there were food trucks, Hester said. Leonard Barron on Jan. 18, 2023, remembers Nikkitia Bryant, 29, who grew up next to him. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. Just over two weeks into the new year, 16.7% of all mass shootings in the U.S. so far have happened in Florida. AND INVESTIGATORS DO BELIEVE MORE THAN ONE SHOOTER WAS INVOLVED. Treasure Coast Newspapers. FORT PIERCE St. Lucie County sheriff's detectives on Tuesday confirmed a woman died who was shot along with . It was kind of hard to tell who a victim was and who was just hiding.. "She was a kind little girl growing up with a great smile," family member Phyllis Harris said. No arrests have been made in this case, forcing family members to wait. He said a minimum of two people were in a dispute. "It's really sad in a celebration of someone who represented peace and equality that a disagreement results in a use of guns and violence to solve that disagreement, and thats whats really sad to me about what happened here. The mother was shot at an MLK Day event in Fort Pierce, There was at least one shooter involved, Hester said, adding he believes there was more than one shooter. "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. 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. THATS RIGHT. The attached flyer said the car show was at 3:30 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. in Florida: Where he stayed, where he spoke, and where he was shot at, Mass shootings in 2023:MLK Day shooting in Fort Pierce is the 30th mass shooting in U.S. so far this year. Public's help requested:Fort Pierce City Commission pleads for community to help solve MLK Day mass shooting, 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. THERES ALSO, KIDS IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS LINING UP, WAITING TO GET ON THEIR BUSSES, GO TO SCHOOL. Some of those individuals that were involved in this dispute are documented gang members and that's what led us to that initial stance that this was a gang-related event, Hester said. 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. What's On Tap This . All rights reserved. Four others were injured during the chaos after shots were fired, including a child, according to officials. Person of interest identified in Fort Pierce, Florida MLK Day shootings. #BREAKING #UpdateAt least 8 people have been shot at Martin Luther King event in Fort Pierce, Florida pic.twitter.com/cOduFUiqer. Partnering with local parole officers and providing a mentorship program to incarcerated youth are among Henley's ideas. AND SOME OF THEM EVEN TELLING US THAT THEY HEARD THE CHAOS. FORT PIERCE, Fla. Friends and family members gathered Saturday to honor the life of a Fort Pierce mother who was killed in a mass shooting at a Martin . FORT PIERCE St. Lucie County sheriff's detectives are investigating a shooting that left multiple people injured Monday during a Martin Luther King Jr. car show event. Everything, to a certain degree, seemed to be going fine.". He handed out trophies to the winners of the car show, but left before the shooting, he said. AND WEVE BEEN SEEING CLEANUP CREWS OUT FOR THE LAST HOUR. The shooting occurred after the event ended. THERE WERE ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE HERE. MIAMI (AP) A 30-year-old woman has died following a shooting that broke out between rival gang members during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in Florida, sheriff's officials said Tuesday.. Fort Pierce residents form petition to block waterfront development . More:'I saw the gator grab her,' woman says after neighbor dies in alligator incident, More:Officer, device, give inside view of Vero Beach parking, nature of motorists | Opinion, More:Strawberry picking season is almost over. One of the people who was shot is in critical condition. Another shooting occurred nearby Tuesday when . Santos Arturo Amador-Sanchez, 31, has been arrested in the shooting death of a 40-year-old woman and injuries to two others, including a 10-year-old boy, during a family gathering Saturday. Pastor Richard Cox, of Trinity Lutheran Church, leads a prayer vigil for victims of mass shooting during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. "I'm a firm believer in prayer," Nash said. An explosive device was found in a checked piece of luggage at Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley International Airport on Monday, according to a criminal complaint. One person is dead Tuesday after a mass shooting during a Martin Luther King Jr. event in Fort Pierce that left 11 others injured. Leonard Barron remembers Nikkitia Bryant, fatally shot at Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. Hester referred to the scene as mass chaos. Deputies investigating shooting near Fort Pierce park during MLK Day eventSubscribe to WPBF on YouTube now for more: http://bit.ly/1qfxvbXGet more West Palm . The shooting at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in a park in Fort Pierce was the 30th mass shooting in the United States so far in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. pic.twitter.com/rGWQunx8J7. "The FBI does not define Mass Shooting in any form," the GVA says on its methodology page. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, Fort Myers News-Press, Mass shootings compound loss for minority groups, After mass shootings, the loss felt by marginalized groups already facing discrimination is compounded (December 30) (AP Production: Sharon Johnson) (AP Video: Cody Jackson, Lekan Oyekanmi, Noreen Nasir, Britany Peterson), Woman dies after being shot at MLK Day car show in Fort Pierce, sheriff confirms, Witness describes 'scary' scene in which 8 shot Monday in Fort Pierce, Mass shooting at Fort Pierce MLK Day celebration leaves 8 shot, 1 dead, Revealing trends, details and anguish of every US event since 2006, at least six people, including an infant, were shot and killed, Two men were killed and four others were injured, Four people in their 20s were shot in Homestead, Eight people were shot during an MLK Day celebration, Two killed, four injured in New Year's Day shooting in Ocala, DeSantis dodges 'heart beat' abortion bill question, says he's 'ready' for gun bill, Gov. On a day honoring a man of peace and nonviolence, multiple people were shot Monday afternoon in Fort . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Murray wants the shooting discussed by the Police Community Advisory Committee, which was created in 2018, just two years after Fort Pierce police shot and killed Demarcus Semer, a 21-year-old . 1:29. Video below: Live report from the scene Related: 1 dead, 11 others expected to survive after MLK Jr. Day mass shooting in Fort Pierce And then so many innocent people who were injured or hurt and were not part of the disagreement as well. 8:50 PM EST, Wed January 18, 2023. Published: Sep. 7, 2022 at 6:50 PM PDT. FORT PIERCE, Fla. . Similarly, Bruce Murray, the newest member of the city Police Community Advisory Committee, called the shooting disturbing. It was a family celebration. "There was a disagreement of some sort between two parties and, unfortunately, they chose to resolve that with guns," says Chief Deputy Brian Hester. WHAT? Read more articles by Chris hereand follow him on Twitter at@cabridges, Fort Pierce mass shooting: Crowd reacts to shots fired at MLK Day party. Facebook. REPORTING FROM FORT PIERCE, IM JO. FOUR OTHERS, INCLUDING A CHILD WERE INJURED IN THIS. One of the people shot was seriously injured, she said. Police: Two killed, four injured in New Year's Day shooting in Ocala, Constitutional carry:DeSantis dodges 'heart beat' abortion bill question, says he's 'ready' for gun bill, 'Dont knee cap the rights':Gov. She suggested revamping the Roundtable of St. Lucie County's gang-prevention program to involve educators and School Board members in those discussions. He also added, "What was a shooting investigation has turned into a murder investigation.". IT WAS ALL UNFOLDING. Large police presence next to Ave. M and 13th St. in Fort Pierce. Gun violence has taken the lives of 16 children nationwide, with 23 more injured. Former state Rep. Larry Lee was brought to tears when talking about innocent bystanders who were hurt. SheKnows. and last updated 4:29 PM, Jan 28, 2023. and last updated 7:53 AM, Jan 17, 2023. Can they be stopped? Murray believes communication between the community and the Police Department has improved in past years. AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Witnesses describe 'scary' scene in which 8 shot at MLK Day event in Fort Pierce, Woman dies after being shot at MLK Day car show in Fort Pierce, sheriff confirms, Candlelight vigil for shooting victims 'a lighthouse' for a community, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "I'm really going to miss her.". There was at least one shooter, Hester said, adding he believes there is another involved. "There were celebrations, there were song and dance. Loved ones say Bryant was one of the innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire in Fort Pierce's Ellis Park, shot in front of her 9-year-old daughter. Witnesses tell @WPBF25News multiple people have been shot. Community remembrance:Candlelight vigil for shooting victims 'a lighthouse' for a community. HERE IT I LAWS ELLIS PARK A TOTAL OF EIGHT PEOPLE WERE SHOT. The shooting happened at Ilous Ellis Park at 5:20 p.m. during the MLK Car Show and Family Fun Day. Incidents that cannot be verified are not included. However, since Monday's shooting remains under investigation by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, it's hard to tell what types of policing changes might result, Murray told TCPalm Tuesday. St. Lucie Sheriff's Office has identified a person of interest in the MLK Day shooting incident that occurred Monday afternoon. While they may be gang documented members, some of the people that were involved in this, we don't believe that this was two rival gangs that showed up on the grounds of this event and decided to go at each other..