8 People Injured During a Shooting at MLK Day Event in Fort Pierce Florida Authorities Say

By Jaslin On Jan 17, 2023

An event commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. in Fort Pierce, Florida, which was very packed, resulted in the shooting deaths of eight individuals, according to the local authorities on Monday night. According to Chief Deputy Brian Hester of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, all eight of the adult victims were transported to a local hospital, and one of them is currently in critical condition.

According to the information provided by the sheriff’s office, the chaos that ensued after the gunshot resulted in at least four additional people being injured. According to Hester, there were more than a thousand people present at the block party that was taking place in Ilous Ellis Park when gunshots started to ring out at about 5:20 p.m.

According to the website for city, the event consisted of a car show and a “family fun day” for the community to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hester stated that as soon as the shots started to ring out, people started running in all different ways.

“As our deputies were coming and entering the scene. it was complete and utter anarchy there.” People may be seen laying behind cars and anything else that provided a suitable hiding place for them. At that point, it was really difficult to distinguish between those who were victims and those who were simply hiding.

According to Hester, two sheriff’s officers were working in the park at the time of the incident and were able to render aid to the injured party. He went on to say that several witnesses were also assisting in the effort to help people and transport them to the hospital.

According to Hester, the first investigation conducted by the police led them to assume that the shooting was the result of “a conflict of some type between two persons.” Hester stated that, based on information received and evidence discovered at the scene, he believes there were likely numerous shooters.

The culprits in the shooting have not been identified by the police as of yet. The chief deputy stated that investigators are currently conducting an analysis of the crime scene as well as following up on many leads provided by witnesses and members of the community.

“It’s incredibly regrettable and it’s sad that during a celebration of someone who symbolized peace and equality, a dispute results in the use of guns and violence,” Hester said. “It’s just awful and it’s heartbreaking.” According to the flyer for the event, the event featured a DJ, various activities for children, and an afternoon of judging for a vehicle show. It claims that the sheriff’s department was responsible for providing security at the time. Located around an hour’s drive to the north of West Palm Beach is the coastal city of Fort Pierce.