Fort Pierce shooting: Woman dies in possible gang-related gunfire at Florida MLK Day event, deputies say

FORT PIERCE, Fla. - A 30-year-old woman has died after she and seven others were hurt following a shooting during a car show and Martin Luther King Day celebration Monday night in Fort Pierce, Florida, deputies announced during a news conference Tuesday morning.

The St. Lucie mother, who has not been publicly identified, was attending the event with her 6-year-old daughter when gunfire broke out at Ilous Ellis Park around 5:30 p.m. Monday, St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said in a video posted to the agency's Facebook page.

Four others were injured in the chaos after the shooting as people ran away, he said.

Deputy Chief Brian Hester of the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, who also appeared in the video, said there is evidence that the shooting was between two rival Fort Pierce gangs.

"At this time, evidence supports this shooting was the result of a dispute between two rival Fort Pierce gangs," Hester said. "There were over 50 shell casings that were recovered from the scene from three different caliber of weapons to support some of that information."

 "Now, what was a shooting investigation, has turned into a murder investigation," Sheriff Mascara added.

Deputies said Monday night that they believe there were multiple people who shot weapons, citing the investigation and witness accounts. However, officials have not released further details about possible suspects.

No arrests have been announced.

Deputy Chief Hester said the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has every available resource assigned to the investigation. He said anyone who has information on the suspects or was attempting to hide or help them elude law enforcement would be arrested and charged under the law.

A hotline for tips and information related to the shooting investigation was created Tuesday morning. That number is 772-462-3230.