SWAT helps end barricade situation after Vero Beach resident fires weapon, saying he’s looking for a shootout
On the evening of March 5, Vero Beach residents living near 8th Street and 5th Avenue were gathering on social media asking what all the police activity was all about in their neighborhood. Turns out, Kendall Wireman, a convicted felon who was living in the area, purposefully set out to have a shootout with Florida law enforcement – and informed his neighbors about his intentions.
A witness was told by Wireman, “I’m getting in a shootout so you may want to go inside”. According to other witnesses, Wireman then returned to his apartment. ~ IRCSO
According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Sunday evening, the IRCSO Dispatch Center received several 911 calls from residents within Pemberly Palms Apartments regarding the 62-year-old convicted felon, Kendall Wireman, who shot a firearm from his apartment building toward 8th Street.
Dozens of residents at Pemberly Palms Apartments were evacuated from their apartment units on Sunday. They have since been able to return. Deputies said several 911 calls came in about the incident. ~ WPBF
Additional callers said they heard the man say “things are going to get bad late,” according to WPTV. Multiple deputies responded to the area and immediately established a perimeter of the apartment building which eventually led to the displacement and evacuation of residents in nearby apartments. Wiremen was contacted by deputies but refused to come out of the residence or allow deputies inside.
The IRCSO SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiations Team were deployed to the scene. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and the Vero Beach Police Department also provided resources.
After more than five hours of negotiations, Wiremen peacefully surrendered himself and walked out of the apartment without further incident, according to CBS-12 News.
IRCSO detectives on the scene were able to successfully obtain a search warrant for Wiremen’s apartment. After executing the search warrant, a pink and silver colored .380 caliber pistol was located in the attic. Several rounds of ammunition were also located in the attic.
(Ammo and handgun recovered from the scene, Image credits: IRCSO)
During interviews with detectives, Wireman confessed to making statements about a shootout, but claimed the gun was a BB gun.
The Sheriff’s Office said that they were thankful to report that no one was injured in the incident and that Wireman was being charged with the following:
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (drug conviction from the state of Michigan)
- Discharging a Firearm in Public in a Reckless Manner.
(Source: India River County Sheriff’s Office)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook. Twitter & Instagram
