ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — The man convicted in a deadly Martin Luther King Jr. Day shooting in Fort Pierce is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday morning, marking the next step in a case that has had a lasting impact on the community.
A sentencing hearing for Kemmye Parson is set for 9:30 a.m. at the St. Lucie County Courthouse after it was previously postponed.
Parson was found guilty in February in connection with the 2023 shooting at Ilous Ellis Park. The shooting happened Jan. 16, 2023, during a large MLK Day celebration when gunfire broke out in a crowd.
29-year-old Nikkitia Bryant was killed. Investigators said she was attending the event with her daughter and was caught in the crossfire. Several other people were also injured, sending families and attendees running for safety in what officials described as a chaotic scene.
Video shows celebrations at park in Fort Pierce before the gunfire on MLK Day on January 16, 2023. (CNN Newsource)
Parson was arrested in March 2023 and has remained in custody since.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the court is expected to hear from both prosecutors and the defense, along with possible victim impact statements from Bryant’s family. The sentencing hearing is expected to bring a measure of closure for Bryant’s family and the Fort Pierce community.
The case has also led to a civil lawsuit filed in 2025, alleging failures related to safety and security at the event.