GIFFORD — The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in providing information regarding an overnight robbery and shooting in Gifford.
Shortly before midnight, authorities were advised of an attempted robbery that led to the shooting of the victim. The man was injured in his lower body and flown to Lawnwood Medical Center where he is being treated. His condition was not known.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the victim returned home around 11:50 p.m. Thursday and as he exited his vehicle, four black males between the ages of 16 and 18 approached him.
The males were described as wearing all black and masks.
The victim told investigators he heard a shotgun shell get racked and then the males told him to “give it up.”
The man fled on foot away from the vehicle but one of the males fire a single round from the shotgun, striking him in lower body, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The males then approached the victim and again told him to “give it up.” The victim told authorities that he told the males he didn’t have anything and that’s when the males fled the scene.
The Sheriff’s Office dispatched a K-9 unit to track the suspects, who had traveled north on 32nd Avenue, and west on 46th Street toward 33rd Avenue. The K-9 lost the track in the area of the 4600 block of 34th Avenue.
Along the track, though, authorities recovered a shotgun, a black shirt and discovered three different shoe impressions.
Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to contact Detective Steven Stoll at (772) 978-6161.
