Fort Pierce - Wednesday January 18, 2023: The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Wednesday announced that they are looking for a person of interest in Monday afternoon’s Martin Luther King Day shooting in Fort Pierce.
He is 27-year-old Frederick Lamart Johnson Jr. Authorities are pleading for help from the public in locating him or anyone else who has information about the tragic event that took place late Monday afternoon at Ellis Park.
The woman killed during the shooting has been identified as 29-year-old Nikkitia Bryant of Fort Pierce. She was with her 9-year-old child at the event.
“Nikkitia Bryant was an innocent person with her child enjoying that family event," said St. Lucie County Sheriff Chief Deputy Brian Hester during a Wednesday news conference. "She was shot because some individual, with no concern or care for others, or their lives, decided they wanted to shot someone over a dispute.”
Two of the seven others hit by the gunfire remain in the hospital, the other 5 gunshot victims have been released. Chief Deputy Hester said none of those who were shot or injured Monday are considered suspects. “There is no victim that was shot that we’re interest in right. As far as I know the victims didn’t have anything to do with it. They were just standing wherever they were standing when the incident broke out and were hit by stray bullets.”
VIEW the news conference held by SLC Sheriff Chief Deputy Brian Hester HERE> https://fb.watch/v/4qRseJ4_J/.
No one has been arrested yet, but the person of interest, Fredrick Lamart Johnson Jr., already had a warrant out for his arrest on violating probation on a prior felony drug charge.
“He was there when it happened," said Hester, "and he has an active felony warrant and we want to get him into custody and obviously we want to talk to him.”
Hester also said authorities do not now believe that the incident was caused by two gangs looking to rumble. Rather it was two or more people who happened to be gang members and got into an argument, and then pulled out their guns.
“We going to make every gang member and their gang, their life miserable, until we put these people that are responsible for this in jail, you’re not going to be safe if you’re a gang member.," " said Chief Deputy Hester.
Anyone with any information about the shooting is asked to call the Sheriff at 772-462-3230 or call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477.