The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office updated the community following a shooting that injured two at the Beach Village Apartments in Palm Coast. One juvenile was shot in the leg, after that very juvenile shot the other victim in the midst of a violent domestic conflict.
Fortunately, no one was killed in the shooting. 22-year-old Tyree Smith was shot multiple times and later taken for medical treatment with non-life-threatening injuries. The juvenile was treated and released for his own non-life-threatening wounds.
According to the FCSO, a domestic disturbance occurred Sunday in an apartment at the Beach Village Apartments complex, just west of the Beach Village Publix. Though the complex is listed as a Palm Coast address, it’s located just across the Flagler Beach bridge on the mainland.
Deputies were called to the scene at 8:35 pm Sunday. The caller reported that one person was still in the apartment, while the other left to go to a nearby convenience store. Law enforcement was later seen in a mass gathering at the 7-Eleven gas station just yards away from the apartments.
Smith was located at the convenience store by a Flagler Beach Police officer with gunshot wounds to his upper body and arm, the FCSO says. FCSO and FBPD personnel administered initial aid, and Smith was then transported to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
The juvenile was found by deputies inside the apartment. He’d been shot in the leg, and was also taken to Halifax Health. An investigation was launched into the shooting by the FCSO’s Major Case Unit and Crime Scene Investigation unit. The apartment complex and convenience store both became crime scenes.
A handgun was found by deputies in the hallway, along with spent shell casings and what appeared to be the impacts of bullets in the area. There was a female occupant inside the apartment, who gave an interview providing her account of what happened.
According to that female, a verbal confrontation between her and Smith escalated into a physical fight. She said Smith knocked her over and caused her to hit her head. At this point she said she started screaming for help. The juvenile, a relative, is said to have entered with a firearm to try and get Smith to stop.
When Smith reportedly became aggressive toward the juvenile, he fired and struck Smith. A struggle for the gun ensued, resulting in the juvenile being shot in the leg. At this point Smith is said to have fled to the convenience store.
“Our Major Case Unit is still actively working to confirm the details of exactly what occurred,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Thankfully, no one suffered life-threatening injuries, and no innocent persons were injured during this incident. Both persons involved are making stand-your ground claims and both do not appear to be completely truthful or cooperative.”
As of Tuesday morning, no criminal charges have been announced in the investigation. Smith, the only individual named by the FCSO, has no arrest record in Flagler County.
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
