GIFFORD — Deputies shot and wounded a 19-year-old man who officials said ran from a traffic stop while carrying a gun late Saturday. The man – who was struck several times by the gunfire – was taken by ambulance to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, Indian River County Assistant Fire Chief David Rattray said.
“He is going to live. He is awake and talking to our detectives right now,” Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said during a news conference at the scene of the shooting.
Flowers said four deputies fired at the man as he fled the stop. The officers were placed on paid administrative leave, which is routine for police-involved shootings.
The names of the deputies who fired and the injured man were not released. Flowers said there was no known threat to the community.
.@IRCSheriff Eric Flowers gives update on deputy-involved shooting that happened late Saturday on 45th Street in Gifford. #VeroNews pic.twitter.com/iRVyvFRHjc
— Nicholas Samuel (@JournalistNickS) June 12, 2022
Flowers said the vehicle the man was traveling in was connected to another shooting that occurred at 2 a.m. Saturday in the 4500 block of 38th Avenue in Gifford. No injuries were reported in the 2 a.m. shooting.
“Our detectives were actively watching this vehicle that was known to be involved in that volley of shots and also known to be involved in some burglaries that were occurring in our community,” Flowers said.
Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle about 9 p.m. in the 3100 block of 45th Street. Flowers said there were four people in the vehicle, including a rear-passenger who had a firearm.
The deputies told the rear-passenger to not touch the gun as they slowly removed people from the vehicle, Flowers said. Flowers said the passenger grabbed the firearm and ran from the automobile.
Deputies shot the man. It was unclear how many times the man was struck by gunfire or how many bullets were fired.
Flowers said the other three occupants in the vehicle were being questioned at the sheriff’s office. Flowers said the people in the vehicle were known to investigators to be involved with the previous shooting that happened earlier on Saturday.
Several sheriff’s patrol cars, crime scene vans and Sebastian police cars could be seen along 45th Street late Saturday.
Law enforcement roped off a section of the roadway and placed cones in the street. A crowd of people stood near the area blocked off by crime scene tape.
Flowers said the agency was still reviewing body camera footage from deputies and dashboard camera footage. It was unknown when the footage would be publicly released.
“Our folks definitely did their job tonight. They protected the community,” Flowers said. “We’re going to continue to investigate this.”
No further details were available.