Riviera Beach is reeling from a deadly incident that unfolded inside a local Wawa convenience store, located on the corner of Blue Heron Boulevard and Garden Road. The shootings, which took place on Wednesday night, claim the life of 15-year-old Anthony Thurston Jr. and left another individual in critical condition. Details remain scant as police hold back information pending their investigation.
While the Riviera Beach Police Department has kept tight-lipped regarding the circumstances leading to the violence, the effect on the community is palpable - evident in the wary testimonials of the store's clientele. "Well I hear gunshots all the time but the most frustrating part of it is innocent people coming to the store and getting killed it's insane," a customer, Alen Grant lamented, according to CBS12 News. The store, which operates 24 hours a day, has become the focal point of safety concerns for both customers and staff alike.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, arrests have been made, Shaakiara Smith was taken into custody by authorities following an altercation at the scene. She later revealed in an interaction with CBS12 News that her son was the teenager who had been fatally shot. The grief-stricken mother, at a loss for details regarding the cause or the culprit of her son's death, underscored the vacuum of information that plagues both her and the community.
Police presence dominated the scene following the incident with "cops, firetrucks, ambulances" inundating the area, a passerby, Kandace Silver recounted the chilling sight to WPBF. As for Wawa, their response emphasized collaboration with law enforcement: "We are working to support law enforcement as we investigate the incident that occurred at our store. We will continue to work with law enforcement in any way we can," they stated, according to the same source. The company further indicated that counseling is on offer for employees affected by the trauma.
For a time, the store shuttered its doors, only to reopen the following morning. Yet, as daily operations tentatively resume, a restless air lingers—shadows of the night’s chaos etched in the minds of the community. The detective work is ongoing, and it stands to reason that relevant details will trickle in, offering some semblance of clarity to a shaken neighborhood. Until then, the people of Riviera Beach must grapple with uncertainty, eyeing with caution the commonplace locales they once frequented without second thought.
