Two mass shootings in California, Florida leave several dead, injured

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Jan 08:51

A 17-year-old mother and her 6-month-old baby are among the six people killed in a California mass shooting.

A sheriff's car at the crime scene in Fort Pierce, Florida (Twitter)

Six people were killed, including a 17-year-old mother and her 6-month-old baby, in a shooting early on Monday at a home in central California, sheriff’s officials confirmed.

The Tulare county sheriff’s office said that deputies responded around 3:30 am to reports of multiple shots fired at the residence in unincorporated Goshen, east of Visalia.

"Actually the report was that an active shooter was in the area because of the number of shots that were being fired," sheriff Mike Boudreaux told reporters.

According to Boudreaux, deputies found two victims killed in the street and a third person fatally shot in the doorway of the residence, adding that three more victims were found inside the home, including a man who was still alive but later succumbed to his injury at a hospital.

The sheriff affirmed that investigators are searching for at least two suspects.

Investigators believe there is a gang connection to the killings. Boudreaux noted that last week, the sheriff’s office conducted a narcotics-related search warrant at the residence.

"We also believe this was not a random act of violence. We believe this was a targeted family," the sheriff pointed out.

Eight injured, including one in critical condition

In a similar context, eight people were wounded after being shot during a crowded Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in Fort Pierce, Florida, authorities reported on Monday night.

Brian Hester, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy, said eight adult victims were transferred to a hospital, including one who is in critical condition. The sheriff's office added that at least four others were injured in the disturbance that followed the shooting.

According to Hester, more than 1,000 people were gathered at a block party in Ilous Ellis Park when gunfire was sounded around 5:20 pm.

"As the shots rang out, people were just running in all directions," the Chief Deputy indicated.

🚨#BREAKING: Mass shooting reported during Martin Luther King Day event
⁰📌 #FortPierce | #Florida

Police are reporting a mass shooting during a MLK Day celebration at Ilous Ellis Park that has left several people injured, the exact number shot at this time is still unknown pic.twitter.com/MhsNA99M0g
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 17, 2023

"As our deputies were arriving and entering the scene… it was mass chaos there. There were people laying behind cars, laying behind anything they could lay behind. It was kind of hard to tell who was a victim and who was just hiding at that point," he expressed.

Hester pointed out that based on an initial investigation, police believe the shooting resulted from "a disagreement of some sort between two parties," adding that he believes there were multiple shooters.

The official concluded that investigators are working to examine the crime scene and are following up on several leads from witnesses.