FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Nearly two months after a 16-year-old girl, Tar'nija Carter, was shot and killed near the Boys and Girls Club in Fort Pierce, nearby neighbors say there has not been a stop in nearby gun violence.
Thursday, one person was hospitalized following a shooting near 31st Street and Avenue K.
The Boys and Girls Club went on lockdown because children were inside.
A woman who lives near the crime scene said she heard six to seven shots. She did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation.
“I saw a guy approach my neighbors with his arm extended out and he shot first. There was return fire and I watched him fall down, get up,” the neighbor described.
After police arrived on the scene, more shots rang out several blocks away. Police were seen running to their cars and driving toward the sound of the gunfire.
“To be all honest, It’s been like a constant thing,” the neighbor said. “Kids are getting shot. Parents are getting shot. My kids are scared half the time to even come outside anymore.”
On Jan. 18, Just a couple of blocks away at the Pine Creek Village Apartments, a woman says stray bullets pierced through her window, injuring her husband. Police are still investigating that incident.
Commissioner Reggie Sessions at a recent city meeting brought up his concerns about a group of young people riddling a home with bullets on Jan. 12. He said the incident happened near 23rd Street and Avenue K.
“Whoever these individuals are that are out there with this shooting, they need to be dealt with,” Sessions said.
Some neighbors say they feel defeated, having health with gun violence for years.
“It’s really escalating. I mean, it hasn’t gone down at all in no way, shape, or form. I know people sit there and say oh the gun rate has gone down. No. It has not gone down,” the neighbor said.
Tuesday, Fort Pierce Police said they were increasing patrols in the area.
Neighbors say they would like to see more frequent patrols.
“We need the patrols. We need this area watched out.”
Fort Pierce Police Detectives are following up on leads and working to identify the suspect(s) involved in this case. If anyone has any information concerning this incident, please contact Detective Michael Dini in the office at 772-467-6867 or on his cellphone at 772-979-1404 and after hours at 772-467-6800.
