FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Four people were shot Sunday afternoon in what the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office believes was a violent ambush stemming from an arranged online marketplace transaction.
The shooting occurred at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, January, 18, 2026, in front of a vacant house on the 3600 block of Avenue R. Deputies responded to the scene, secured the area, and rendered aid to the victims alongside St. Lucie County Fire Rescue.
A preliminary investigation indicates the incident began as an attempted online sale. According to Sheriff’s Office officials, an individual arrived at the address to purchase an item but was instead ambushed by three suspects who opened fire.
“Witnesses were outside when the shooting happened and that they were uninjured,” St. Lucie County Sheriff John Bolduc told CBS12 News.
The four shooting victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Sheriff Bolduc provided an update on their conditions, stating that two victims were currently in surgery, while the other two were believed to be stable.
Authorities are actively searching for suspects. Deputies believe a fifth individual may have been involved and are working to identify and locate that person. The Sheriff’s Office has not released any suspect descriptions at this time.
The Criminal Investigations Division has taken over the case. Residents can expect a continued heavy law enforcement presence in the area as detectives collect evidence and process the scene.
This incident serves as a stark warning about the potential dangers of in-person transactions arranged online. Law enforcement agencies nationwide routinely advise the public to use designated “safe exchange zones” at local police stations or sheriff’s offices, which are monitored and offer a secure location for such meetings.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.