FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A 66-year-old man is dead after a shooting on Essex Drive Tuesday afternoon, and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect is already behind bars.
Deputies were called to the 2700 block of Essex Drive around 3:30 p.m. after getting reports of someone with a gunshot wound. When they got there, investigators learned that one adult man had shot another adult man with a rifle.
The victim has been identified as Andre Leonard Barnes, 66, of Fort Pierce. Deputies gave him emergency medical care on scene until St. Lucie County Fire District crews showed up and took over. Barnes was rushed to a local hospital, but he later died from his injuries.
Suspect taken into custody quickly
The sheriff’s office says the suspect was arrested at the scene without incident. Investigators have not released the suspect’s name or said what charges, if any, have been filed so far. It also isn’t clear yet what relationship, if any, existed between the suspect and Barnes before the shooting.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division spent the afternoon and evening processing the scene, collecting evidence, and talking to people who live nearby. Officials describe the case as an active and fluid investigation, meaning more details could come out as detectives keep working.
Neighbors described Barnes as well-liked and easygoing. One neighbor, George Griffin, said Barnes was a good man who never caused trouble on the block. Griffin said he stepped outside Tuesday to find much of the neighborhood already gathered after word spread that someone had been shot.
Community shaken as violence continues
Griffin said residents on Essex Drive have known each other for years and tend to look out for one another, which made the news of Barnes’ death hit even harder. He said the shooting was a reminder of how quickly life can change and hoped it would push people toward more compassion for each other.
Despite the violence, the sheriff’s office maintains there is no ongoing danger to the public. Officials say everything points to this being an isolated incident tied to whatever happened between the two men involved, not a random act aimed at the community.
This marks at least the third shooting reported in or around Fort Pierce tied to the Fourth of July holiday stretch. Earlier in the week, Fort Pierce Police announced that a man shot on July 5 had died from his injuries, and another man shot on Independence Day itself remains hospitalized.
The sheriff’s office has not released a timeline for when charges might be formally filed. Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to contact the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
