Fort Pierce, Florida – The Fort Pierce Police Department addressed the public through a news conference on Monday to discuss a recent shooting involving their officers. The incident, which took place on Saturday, resulted in the fatal shooting of the gunman, identified as 28-year-old Bernard Smith, after an exchange of gunfire with the police.
According to Fort Pierce police, the events unfolded with multiple reports on Saturday – the first being a person shot at the 1400 block of 23rd Street shortly after 11 a.m. Another call came in about a vehicle theft at the 2100 block on Avenue N. Officers responded to both incidents simultaneously, where they found a man shot at the initial scene and heard gunshots coming from elsewhere.
Upon reaching the 1600 block of North 25th Street, officers encountered the shooter, later identified as Smith. A gunfire exchange ensued between the gunman and the police, leading to Smith’s death. Despite the outcome, the police did provide aid to Smith before transferring him to a hospital.
Following the incident, investigations revealed that victims were shot at the 1600 block of NW 24th Street and the 2400 block of Avenue P. Tragically, two individuals succumbed to their injuries, identified as 24-year-old Devin Bradley and 59-year-old Roosevelt Benjamin. At the time of the report, Craig Robinson, the individual shot at the first scene, remained hospitalized at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital.
The Fort Pierce Police Department announced a potential link between the car theft and the officer-involved shooting, indicating an ongoing effort to establish connections between the various shootings. Additionally, the city of Fort Pierce issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident and urging community solidarity in the face of tragedy.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation into the officer-involved shooting to ensure a thorough examination of the events that transpired. The community remains in mourning as they come together to support one another during this challenging time.