INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Law enforcement agencies nationwide were searching for a man described as a person of interest in a Sunday morning shooting that left an unidentified 52-year-old woman dead in a mobile home lot. The shooting – which officials say is a possible domestic violence case – was being investigated as a homicide.
“Anybody out there who witnessed this, please call us,” Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said at the crime scene Sunday afternoon. “We want to know what you heard and saw.”
Deputies responded to reports of a woman found lying on the roadway at 8:41 a.m. Sunday in the 500 block of First Street, west of U.S. 1 and south of the Vero Beach city limits. The woman – whose name was not released Sunday – was found right outside of her home, sheriff’s officials said.
When deputies discovered that the woman had a gunshot wound, they immediately tried to revive her, sheriff’s officials said. The woman was taken by ambulance to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, where doctors pronounced her dead.
Deputies were searching for 33-year-old Matthew Allen Waggle as a person of interest. The town Waggle lives was not immediately available.
The motive for the shooting was not immediately known. Flowers said Waggle and the woman had a relationship, but further details were not released.
Flowers said he believes Waggle was no longer in Indian River County. The sheriff described the neighborhood where the shooting occurred as a well-populated area.
“We have put out a nationwide be-on-the-lookout alert for (Waggle),” Flowers said. “Our team is working with the Real Time Crime Center. Our detectives have been working on this all day. It’s our goal to ultimately locate him.”
Details on the number of gunshots fired were not released. Flowers said deputies believe Waggle – considered armed and dangerous – fled from the area in a vehicle.
Deputies were conducting a search warrant on the woman’s home. Flowers said the sheriff’s office is committed to stopping domestic violence incidents.
“It’s behind closed doors. It’s happening in every community, race, culture and religion,” said Flowers, who previously served as president of Safe Space, a state-certified domestic-violence help center in Indian River County. “We have to do something to make this stop.”
Anyone who sees Waggle or knows his whereabouts should not approach him and immediately dial 911. Those who were in the area between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Sunday should contact the sheriff’s office.
“If you witnessed this incident, were in the area of First Street this morning, or have any information that could assist investigators, please contact the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.
Callers can contact the sheriff’s office at 772-569-6700. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1-800-273-TIPS or tcwatch.org.
“There have to be witnesses to this,” Flowers said. “We’re looking for any video. Anybody who has Ring doorbell video…we’re looking for that.”
Deputies will remain at the scene throughout the night. The investigation remains active.
Matthew Waggle PHOTO PROVIDED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
This story will be updated.
