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America January 19, 2023 3 mins read

MLK Day shooting suspect cleared after a viral rant in front of the police department 

America ı By Jackie Allen

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shooting suspect

On Thursday the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office announced on their Facebook page that 27-year-old Frederick Lamar Johnson, Jr.  'is no longer a person of interest' in the mass shooting at IIous Ellis park. The shooting suspect has been cleared.

On Wednesday, detectives had identified Johnson, as a person of interest in the Martin Luther King Day celebration at Fort Pierce. Deputies did not clarify why he was a suspect but said they believed he was present when shots were fired.

Shooting suspect on Facebook live

Johnson turned himself in on Wednesday afternoon. Prior to talking to the police, he videoed himself outside the Sheriff’s office claiming he was innocent.

In a profanity-laced rant, he said he was never at the event. "I didn't go to the parade or the car show. I was in the house all day." 

I'm going to go turn myself in, but when I get done ...... I'm suing the whole ... Department for defamation of character." He added.

"Instead of doing your job and doing an investigation, you go by hearsay.   Anybody can come tell y'all anything and y'all just run with it and believe it."

"It's really sad. And what's more sad is y'all probably not even gonna get the right person." Johnson said as he was headed into the police station.

However, Johnson was arrested and jailed on a felony warrant for violation of probation on prior drug-related charges. This is totally unrelated to the MLK Day shootings. He is currently being held without bond at the St. Lucie County Jail.

Shooting turns into a murder investigation

The Sheriff's Department announced the shooting death of 29-year-old Nikkitia Bryant. The Fort Pierce-based cosmetologist was shot as she stood next to a food truck with her 9-year-old daughter. And died at a local hospital on Tuesday.

Two victims are still in the hospital in stable condition. The other victims have been released.

In total, Sheriff Ken Mascara said that eight people were shot with one dead. And four were injured attempting to flee the scene. 

"And now what was a shooting investigation has turned into a murder investigation," Sheriff Ken Mascara said.  

Investigators discovered more than 50 shell casings from three different calibers of weapons at the scene.

As of late Thursday, no arrests had been made. And there is no longer a named shooting suspect. 

 The Sheriff says there is a $5,000 reward, backed by the Florida Sheriff's Association.

Anyone having information please call the Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477. You will be able to remain anonymous.

 

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Jackie Allen

Jackie is a freelance journalist and technology geek. She worked as a telecom project director for AT&T and BellSouth. Before joining the USA Herald she has written books, articles, blogs and whitepapers. Her clients include Samsung and other technology companies.

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