TITUSVILLE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -
One man is dead and two others are in serious condition after a neighborhood dispute led to a triple shooting in Brevard County. Detectives said shots were fired just after 12:30 a.m. Monday morning in front of 1950 Smith Drive in Titusville.
The suspected shooter, identified as 44-year-old William T. Woodward, fired at three people after two of the victims were allegedly making noise at a house party right across the street, according to investigators.
One of the victims, 39-year-old Gary Lee Hembree, died at the scene after suffering multiple gun shot wounds. The two other victims, Roger Picior, 44, and Bruce Timothy Blake, 49, were airlifted to an area hospital. Picior is seriously injured. Blake is expected to survive.
There is no evidence that any of the victims had weapons of their own, according to a Titusville Police spokesperson. Detectives believe Woodward actually reloaded his
handgun during the incident. He waited for police to arrive and surrendered to
officers when they arrived at the scene.
Police have responded numerous times to ongoing disputes between Hembree and Woodward and several attempts were made by Titusville Police to mediate, including offering to host meetings at the police department, according to investigators.
Eventually, both parties ended up in court in an ongoing dispute including temporary
injunctions. Several Titusville police officers showed up at a court hearing on August 29,
to testify about the ongoing dispute before Judge Dean Moxley. The officers were not
called upon by the judge and no injunction was issued.
Crime Scene Investigators spent hours securing evidence from the scene and interviewing neighbors in the area.
Woodward has been booked into Brevard County Jail. He faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder.
