Florida Shooting: Gunfire At Funeral Leaves 2 Dead, 2 Wounded

Police in Riviera Beach, Florida, confirm that four people were shot and two were killed in a shooting Saturday at an area church just after a funeral.

The funeral was for the grandfather of local high school football player Terrance Jackson, 15, who was one of the shooting’s casualties. The unknown gunman also killed Royce Freeman, 47.

Shanita Miller, 30, and a teen were wounded in the shooting. Miller is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.

Thirteen rounds were fired, according to a press release.

Authorities are currently pursuing the assailant with several leads. The funeral itself had a police presence due to an undisclosed conflict that had been causing friction within the family.

“Some type of disagreement between the family that kind of escalated... and got out of control,” said Tywuante D. Lupoe, senior pastor for Victory City Church.

Lupoe took to Facebook to share information about the incident. According to the pastor, the shooting took place across the street from the church and did not involve any church members.

“We solicit the prayers of the saints today as we mourn the lost [sic] of two young black men to a sensless [sic] shooting after a funeral held here at the church,” Lupoe’s post read.

Jackson is the second death to affect the Deerfield Beach High School football team. On Dec. 30, player Bryce Gowdy, who had been recruited by Georgia Tech, committed suicide. Coach Jevon Glenn and the team’s other players were in Auburn, Alabama, for a college tour when they received the news of Jackson’s murder.

Riviera Beach, a suburb of West Palm Beach, is located roughly 80 miles north of Miami.