FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Gunfire around 2 a.m. Tuesday led deputies to a traffic stop that uncovered a stolen gun, shell casings, and two 18-year-olds now facing felony charges.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office announced that deputies patrolling the area of Collins Park area reported hearing gunshots around 1:45 a.m. and canvassed the area.
Deputies say a vehicle seen leaving the vicinity was stopped, and a subsequent search revealed spent shell casings on the floorboard and a loaded firearm in the car.
A records check of the gun’s serial number revealed the gun had been stolen from Jacksonville. Deputies say the suspect, 18-year-old Andy Marin-Ortiz of Fort Pierce, showed the deputy a video of his gun discharging inside his vehicle toward the ground.
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Marin-Ortiz was subsequently booked on counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a stolen firearm.
The investigation also revealed that there was a second occupant of the vehicle, 18-year-old Joel Macias Lozano of Fort Pierce, who allegedly discharged the firearm from the car earlier that night.
Lozano was also booked on counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
“The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that firearm ownership carries a serious responsibility,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a post to Facebook. “Reckless and unlawful use of a firearm endangers lives and will not be tolerated. Responsible gun ownership requires sound judgment, respect for the law, and a commitment to public safety.”