INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 62-year-old man is in the Indian River County Jail after authorities say he tried to shoot and kill two people over the weekend. Both victims were airlifted to a trauma center and are expected to recover.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Lawrence Oliver Peterkin, 62, of 1135 18th Ave. SW, Vero Beach, confronted his girlfriend’s niece and the niece’s boyfriend. During the confrontation, Peterkin opened fire on the boyfriend, striking him several times and chased the girlfriend into the garage.
The arrest affidavit states that the niece’s boyfriend suffered multiple injuries to the face, neck, abdomen, buttocks and arm.
The niece told authorities that when the shooting started, she ran to the garage to escape but couldn’t get out. She then lied on the ground and begged Peterkin to not shoot her.
She was shot twice in the chest and leg, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The woman told authorities that she thought the only reason Peterkin stopped shooting her was because he ran out of bullets.
Witnesses reported approximately seven shots fired at the boyfriend.
Peterkin denied owning a gun or being involved in the shooting, the arrest affidavit states. He told investigators he had been in the garage when he heard the boyfriend arguing with two other males. He also told investigators that when he heard the argument he fled the home.
Peterkin has been arrested and convicted before in Indian River County on charges of misdemeanor battery, carrying a concealed weapon, drug and drug paraphernalia possession, and driving with a suspended license, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
