PORT ST. LUCIE, FL — Officers with the Port St. Lucie Police Department were responding to an “active shooter” situation Monday afternoon. In the end, three people were killed.
The scene was at a home near Morningside Elementary School, police said.
Police responded to the scene and found a man fatally injured in a garage.
WPTV reported: Officers and deputies made entry into the home and exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who is believed to be a neighbor. An officer was shot in the arm during the incident and suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Police said authorities found an injured girl, approximately 13 years old, inside the home and pulled her to safety. Paramedics took her to a nearby hospital, where she tragically passed away.
It’s believed the victims are related.
A SWAT Team then made entry into the home and found the suspected shooter dead in an upstairs bedroom. It’s unclear how the shooter died.
“If you heard this call come over the radio, it would make the hair on your neck stand,” Sheriff Mascara said. “A little girl calls in saying, there’s someone shooting in our house.”
Police said a neighborhood dispute over the gunman’s dog sparked the violence. The dog had been declared dangerous in court earlier in the day, according to authorities.
“The court case was this morning. And they all came from court and then that set him off,” said Sheriff Mascara. “They all came home from court and then the suspect armed himself and went to the victim’s house.”
ACTIVE SHOOTER- STAY AWAY FROM AREA. PSL Police advise to stay away from SE Morningside Blvd near Morningside Elementary School as there is an active shooter in a 2-story residence. PSLPD and SLCSO are on scene. An update will follow as information becomes available. pic.twitter.com/zfkVa2FmmT
— Port St. Lucie PD (@PSLPolice) July 6, 2020
No further details were available.
