GIFFORD — Indian River County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Gifford man who allegedly shot a woman near the 3800 block of 44th Place Sunday, June 16, according to authorities.
Van Lowe III, 20, is being charged with the shooting, according to authorities.
The shooting, according to the affidavit, happened around 1 a.m. Sunday.
Deputies located a blue four door Buick at the Indian River Medical that was involved in the shooting, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The car had a single gunshot hole in the roof of the vehicle near the driver’s side rear door. The victim was in the car at the time of the shooting, authorities said.
The victim’s brother was driving through Gifford Manor where there was a block party being held, according to authorities. The brother told investigators he believed he possibly struck a black male with the vehicle and continued driving, at which time he and his sister heard loud popping noises and that is when the woman started screaming in the back seat.
They then traveled to the Indian River Medical Center for treatment for her gunshot wounds.
The victim, according to authorities, immediately identified the person who shot her. The victim said she knew the victim from being facebook friends.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the victim told them after the vehicle struck Lowe, he was seen pointing a silver handgun at their vehicle and discharging it. The victim was shot in the left hand and left thigh.
Deputies later found Lowe in the Victory Park community. After being transported to the Indian River Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Section for further questioning, he told authorities that he was at a friend’s apartment playing a video game when he received several calls from people stating that he was a suspect in regards to a shooting that occurred at the block party.
Upon hearing this, Lowe changed his clothes, according to the affidavit, “because people did not like him and that he knew people were looking for him.”
Lowe faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He is being held at the county jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.
