PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – Two people are dead and two more are in critical condition following a shooting in Palatka, according to the Palatka Police Department. A fifth person was also hurt in the incident after they were “beaten with a blunt object,” police said.
Officers said shots rang out just before 11:45 p.m. Saturday night on N 18th Street outside Vick’s Supper Club.
Captain Matt Newcomb of the Palatka Police Department said there was a large group standing in a parking lot when an argument broke out.
A witness who lives near the scene said they heard loud music coming from the area, then it got quiet.
The witness said after the music stopped they heard about four or five shots.
Four people were taken to the hospital, and two died from their injuries, police said. Two others remain in critical but stable condition, according to police.
All five people were transported to the Putnam Community Medical Center and later airlifted to trauma centers.
Putnam County Fire Rescue described the “very chaotic and evolving scene” in a Facebook post.
PCFR said victims were driven to the hospital by others in the crowd.
“Our crews arrived and managed the scene in the parking lot of the hospital tending to numerous victims. First arriving units established command, and immediately initiated care to multiple Trauma alert patients. Initially it was not known exactly how many people were shot and how many resources would be needed,” PCFR said. “Command requested 5 Medical Helicopters (Air Transport units “ATU’s”) to respond and had to coordinate landing them in the hospital parking lot. As a helicopter would land, another helicopter would be on approach to land and actually there were at least 3 helicopters on the ground at the same time.”
According to investigators, multiple shots were fired and hit several parked cars in the area. They are looking into if the vehicles are related to the shooting.
According to Putnam County Fire Rescue Local 3529, multiple people were shot and multiple trauma alerts, along with multiple medical helicopters. We are working to find out how many people were shot and their conditions right now. FDLE is also on scene @wjxt4 pic.twitter.com/BJO76jvuQT
— Aaron Farrar (@aaronfarrarNews) September 4, 2022
Investigators said they have information on a suspect and are working towards leads in the ongoing investigation.
Police said they can not elaborate on what information they have, but said Sunday afternoon it was determined there is no active threat to the community concerning the incident.
Investigators said they are not releasing the victims’ names until proper notification can be made with their next of kin. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Homicide Investigative team are assisting in the investigation.