TITUSVILLE, Fla. – A woman is expected to survive after suffering multiple gunshot wounds Tuesday evening in Titusville, according to police.
Officers responded around 6:30 p.m. to the 1100 block of Third Avenue, where they located the victim and performed life-saving measures until paramedics arrived, the Titusville Police Department said in a news release.
Titusville police said they do not believe the shooting was random and maintain there is no ongoing threat to public safety. The investigation remains active.
For Sarah Hamilton, the incident struck particularly close to home. Hamilton was attending Bible study when she received an urgent call from her 16-year-old son, Josh, who was home with his 4-year-old sister, Shy.
“He said there were about 15 gunshots, but he called me immediately,” Hamilton said. Josh quickly moved his younger sister to safety in their pantry, where they took shelter until the shooting stopped.
“I answered the phone and he said, ‘Mom, there’s gunshots.’ He grabbed Shy and they hid in the pantry. I was really proud of him for doing that, but it was scary,” Hamilton said.
The teenager also warned his mother not to return home immediately due to the ongoing situation.
“I was ready to come home but he told me not to because there was still shooting,” Hamilton said. “And he said there was a lot of police around. When I got home there was still police up and down the street. I was lucky to get into my driveway.”
Residents in the area report this is not an isolated incident.
One neighbor, who requested anonymity, said, “I was scared, but also shocked because this was the third time something like this has happened.”
While some neighbors indicated they knew the victim’s identity, they declined to provide details out of respect for privacy. One resident mentioned hearing the victim “was doing good in the hospital.”
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Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Titusville Police Department at 321-567-3900, or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.