A Florida woman was shot and killed during a mass shooting that left 11 others injured at a Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Fort Pierce.
29-year-old Nikkitia Bryant was at the event with her 9-year-old daughter.
Family said she was standing at a food truck when she was shot in the abdomen — and her child saw it all.
Her daughter went to school Tuesday and family said the child didn’t know her mother had died.
Bryant’s brother, Calvin Bethel, said the victim and her daughter didn’t know anyone else at the event.
“My niece was there during the chaos and she saw everything – which I can’t explain that to an under 10-year-old child,” Bethel said. “‘Hey, this is how life is, kid, get tough.’ There’s no way I can explain that. Like, she just experienced some real-deal stuff. That’s tough, man.”
St. Lucie County deputies said seven other adults were shot, with one of them undergoing surgery for a shattered shoulder. Four people were also injured during the incident, including a child.
Those people arrived at Lawnwood Hospital Monday, officials said. They are expected to survive.
Police believe the shooting was gang-related. They also say there may be more than one shooter involved.
The shooting stemmed from a dispute between two rival Fort Pierce gangs, according to police. More than 50 shell casings were recovered from three different calibers of weapons.
The city of Fort Pierce released a statement Tuesday:
“The City of Fort Pierce extends its thoughts and prayers to the families that were impacted by the shooting incident which took place during an event at Lincoln Park Regional Park at 1306 Avenue M on Monday afternoon. Tragically, this incident occurred on a day when our community gathered to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who dedicated his life to peacefully advancing human rights and equality.
“The Fort Pierce Police Department, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, and St. Lucie County Fire District responded immediately by securing the site and providing assistance to the injured. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation and the City of Fort Pierce Police Department shall continue to assist our partners at the Sheriff’s Office in any way possible to help bring closure to this unfortunate situation.
“The City of Fort Pierce is dedicated to the safety of our citizens and our mission to provide a safe environment for all. Those with information related to this incident should contact Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477.”
The shooting is being investigated as a homicide.
A $5,000 reward is being offered by the Florida Sheriff’s Association for information that leads to action.
Anyone with information is asked to call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477.
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