VERO BEACH – Two unrelated shootings occurred last night in Indian River County that left one dead, according to the sheriff’s office.
At approximately 10:00 p.m. Friday night, deputies responded to the Indian River Medical Center where a gunshot victim was brought to the hospital by his girlfriend.
“A 19-year-old black male had two gunshot wounds to the lower half of his body,he claims he was shot while walking in Gifford,” Major Eric Flowers told Sebastian Daily.
Deputies canvassed the area where the shooting was alleged to have happened, but have yet to locate any evidence associated with the case.
As detectives pressed for more information about the shooting, the victim became uncooperative, Flowers said.
The second shooting happened just before midnight last night. The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a shooting in Countryside Mobile Home Park, 8775 20th Street.
Arriving deputies and fire rescue personnel located an 18-year-old white male with a fatal gunshot wound.
Deputies believe the incident may have started at the Vero Beach Hotel in the 8700 block of State Road 60, crossing into Countryside.
“A large quantity of marijuana was located near the deceased and three black males were observed fleeing in the direction of the hotel,” Flowers said.
Three witnesses were detained and interviewed as part of the investigation.
“Last night was another busy evening for our deputies, detectives, and 9-1-1 operators. Overnight, detectives have continued to follow leads on both cases in an attempt to locate and arrest those responsible for these shootings. As we continue to gather evidence in these cases, we will seek justice for the victims. At this time, it does not appear that these two shootings are related. Again, we see drug-related incidents turn deadly despite those who claim otherwise,” Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar stated.
