INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Deputies are searching for a person of interest in connection with a shooting that left a man dead with a gunshot wound to the chest, authorities said.
This is the second fatal shooting to happen within the county in less than a week, deputies said. Authorities asked for the public’s help in finding two persons of interest in connection with the recent incidents.
“In less than a week, we have experienced two homicides in our county,” Sheriff Deryl Loar said in a statement. “Our detectives are working to solve both of these cases and have identified two persons of interest.”
Details on if the shootings are connected were not available.
The more recent shooting happened at 7:35 a.m. Monday at Motel 6 in the 8800 block of 20th Street, Sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Eric Flowers said. The motel, which is adjacent to an IHOP restaurant, is located east of Interstate 95 in the western part of the county.
A 44-year-old man was shot once in the chest and flown to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce, according to deputies and Fire Rescue spokesman Cory Richter. The man died at the hospital, Flowers said. His identity is being withheld until family members are notified.
Crime scene tape flapped in the wind as deputies spoke with witnesses at the motel.
*Note for videos: Click the audio icon in the lower right hand corner for sound. If that doesn’t work, try refreshing the page.
Detectives are looking for a person of interest, 20-year-old Jordan Dawkins, of Indian River County, in connection with the shooting. They have not yet determined a motive for the incident.
Jordan Dawkins
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Two sheriff’s crime scene vans, a patrol car and K-9 truck were still at the scene about 1 p.m.
No further information was immediately available.
A Sheriff’s K-9 searches for evidence at the crime scene of a shooting at Motel 6. A man was taken to a trauma center with a gunshot wound to the chest.
*Note for videos: Click the audio icon in the lower right hand corner for sound. If that doesn’t work, try refreshing the page.
Witness Reaction
A motel patron, Chris, 27, of Sebastian, who declined to give his last name, said he woke up to what sounded like two gunshots early Monday. There was about a five to 10 second pause between the rounds, Chris said.
Chris said he then heard a vehicle speed off from the motel. The patron said he walked outside and saw a shirtless man stumbling toward the motel lobby. Chris said ambulances and fire trucks then arrived at the scene.
Small drops of blood could be seen on the hotel walkway that extends to the lobby.
Previous fatal shooting
Last Wednesday, deputies responded to another shooting in the 2400 block of 43rd Street, Gifford. Detectives think an argument between two men sparked the gunfire.
The victim, Marcel Peterson, 26, was shot once, deputies said. His friends drove him to the Indian River Medical Center, where he later died.
Deputies spoke with witnesses at the scene. Deputies are looking for 29-year-old Nathaniel Lee, who is described as a person of interest in the previous fatal shooting.
Nathaniel Lee
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
How you can help
Anyone with information on the two shootings or who knows the whereabouts of Lee and Dawkins should contact Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS or tcwatch.org. Callers can remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
Those with information can also call the Sheriff’s Office at 772-978-6157.
Both Lee and Dawkins have previous arrests with the Sheriff’s Office, including charges of possession of marijuana, burglary and robbery, arrest records show. The men have not been charged for the recent fatal shootings.
Shooting at Motel 6 in IRC; Photos by Nick Samuel
This story will be updated.