Chaos erupted in a Port St. Lucie apartment complex as a man discharged a firearm yesterday morning. Paul Dawson, a 27-year-old Vero Beach resident, now faces charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after his arrest.
Authorities were alerted to the gunfire at around 2 a.m. in the 5400 block of Northwest Moorhen Trail, a neighborhood that had experienced an eerily similar disturbance just weeks before. The Port St. Lucie Police Department told WPTV that upon their arrival, several shell casings were found in the stairwell of an apartment building, although no victims were discovered. A search warrant later led the SWAT Team to Dawson's apartment, confirming the lack of immediate threat to the community.
As reported by WPBF, Dawson's apprehension came after diligent investigation by PSLPD's Major Crimes Unit, along with officers who responded to the initial disturbance. The arrest occurred without further incident and Dawson was booked into St. Lucie County Jail with a bond set at $15,000.
The December 12 incident, which saw police called to the same complex over reports of shots fired in the parking lot, has not been confirmed to be related to this latest shooting. No one was harmed during the previous occurrence but a vehicle was hit by a bullet and counterfeit currency was found on the scene. "It has not been determined whether the two incidents are related," Sgt. Dominick Mesiti, a spokesman for the agency, told WPTV.
As the situation unfolds, the Port St. Lucie Police Department urges anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward and contact PSLPD directly or anonymously through Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers.
