Two people, including a 17-year-old, were arrested in connection with a fatal shooting Friday night in Fort Pierce.
St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken J. Mascara says detectives responded to the intersection of N. 42nd Street and San Diego Avenue after witnesses reported that gun shots were heard at approximately 7:40 p.m.
When deputies arrived, two men were found lying on the ground.
One victim was transported to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. The other, identified as 20-year-old Jamaris Jaquin Smith, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses described seeing a grey, four-door car leaving the area at about the same time of the shooting.
A vehicle matching that description containing two males was stopped at Angle Road and Avenue Q.
“Based upon the information provided by these individuals and the corroborating statements made by the surviving victim and witnesses, our detectives developed sufficient probably cause to arrest the shooter, Bendrell J. Johnson, 18, and an accomplice, Marcus Dewayne Jones, 17.” Mascara said.
Johnson was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder and was transported to the St. Lucie County without bond. Jones was charged with first degree murder and attempted first degree murder and was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice with no bond.
The driver was not charged.
“The fast-acting and thorough work of our first-responding deputy, others responding to the scene, our detectives and crime scene technicians made this unfortunate killing a short-lived investigation that resulted in immediate apprehension of the criminals,” Mascara said. “Efficiencies such as this make me proud to work alongside the heroes of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.”
