GIFFORD — Several 911 calls captured fear from residents after they witnessed a shirtless man wearing black pants and bandannas around his hands firing off shots at vehicles and homes in Gifford late Friday.
A motorist was shot in his back left shoulder and drove himself to the hospital, deputies said. Deputies quickly responded to search for the shooter while Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital was placed on lock down for about an hour.
“He just started shooting up stuff,” witnesses frantically told dispatchers. “He was in the middle of the road with a gun. He just shot my window out.”
Two audio 911 calls released by IRCSO
Deputies arrested Torrevio Maurice Ealy, 33, of the 500 block of 8th Manor, on a variety of charges, including attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting or throwing a deadly missile, discharging a firearm in public and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Ealy was held Monday at the Indian River County Jail on $217,000 bond.
The incident, although quickly resolved, raised the specter of several recent active shooting incidents across the U.S. in recent months.
Another witness told deputies Ealy pointed the silver gun at him and pulled the trigger several times, reports show. The witness – in fear for his life – only heard clicks and thought Ealy ran out of ammunition.
Witnesses saw Ealy, a convicted felon, reload his gun and shoot at a few homes in the neighborhood, reports show.
“We talk about and prepare for active shooter incidents every day. Last Friday, we encountered a man who was intent on shooting random people,” Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said in a statement. “Fortunately, our well trained and prepared deputies arrived on scene quickly and apprehended Ealy before he was able to hurt anyone else.”
Torrevio Ealy PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The motorist who was shot, identified as Usnider Dorvelia, was not seriously hurt and released from the hospital later Friday, Indian River County sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Eric Flowers said. Dorvelia’s age and address were not immediately available.
Monday, deputies released three 911 calls from the incident, including one involving Dorvelia. Dorvelia told officials he did not know the shooter.
“They shot through my window and the bullet hit me in the shoulder,” the Dorvelia told dispatchers. “I need to drive to the hospital.”
911 call audio provided by IRCSO
Indian River County deputies began receiving reports of a shooting about 6 p.m. Friday. Dorvelia told deputies he was driving west in the 3800 block of 44th Street when he heard a “pow,” similar to a gunshot, deputies said.
Dorvelia said he saw another man, who deputies identified as Ealy, walking toward him, swinging his arms around and carrying a gun, reports show. Ealy, who was about 5 feet away, pointed the firearm at Dorvelia and shot him, deputies said.
Witnesses told deputies there was a man walking down the street with a firearm in the Gifford Manors area. The witnesses notified their family members nearby to stay inside their homes.
Deputies immediately went to the scene, spotted Ealy, who was armed, and told him to stop.
Ealy then ran into a home on 44th Place. When he came out a few seconds later, he no longer had the gun, deputies said.
Ealy ran south and was detained by deputies. Deputies said Ealy had two bandannas, one being black, yellow and green – also described as a Jamaican flag – and the other being red and blue.
Deputies searched the home Ealy ran into and found the 357 Magnum firearm. The law enforcement officers also found three other firearms, two of which were reported stolen, officials said.
Deputies also recovered narcotics, though further details on the drugs were not immediately available. Deputies were working to process the items for fingerprints and DNA to determine any other possible charges, officials said.
Bullet casings were also found nearby.
Ealy’s Criminal History
Ealy has a criminal history dating back to 2005.
In 2016, Ealy was convicted of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, court records show. In 2008, Ealy was charged with attempted second-degree murder by discharging a firearm, but was acquitted in the case three years later.
For Friday’s shooting incident, a motive was unclear. Ealy has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. Oct. 4, court records show.
