Crime
Husband and Wife Identified After Fatally Shot on Porch in Brindaban Forest subdivision of Okeechobee
Investigators believe the killings were targeted and directly connected to the suspect.
OKEECHOBEE, FL — A tragic act of violence unfolded Sunday afternoon in the Brindaban Forest subdivision of Okeechobee, where a man dressed in black fatally shot two of his neighbors before being killed during a shootout with responding law enforcement officers.
The victims have been identified as Purvin Evans and his wife, Debbie Evans, both longtime residents of Fort Pierce who were spending the weekend at their second home in Okeechobee.
According to family members, the couple was sitting peacefully on their front porch when they were senselessly gunned down.
“This is my second cousin, Purvin Evans,” a relative wrote in a tribute shared on social media. “He and his wife Debbie were gunned down in cold blood yesterday afternoon, sitting on their porch, just minding their own business. Fort Pierce lost two beautiful souls.”
Purvin Evans was well known in the Fort Pierce community for his decades of work in stucco construction. He and his wife had regularly visited their weekend home in Okeechobee, where they found peace away from the city.
According to Chief Deputy Michael Hazellief of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), deputies responded to a report of gunfire in the Brindaban Forest community around 1:35 p.m. on July 21.
When officers arrived on scene, they were immediately confronted by a male suspect dressed in all black and armed with a long-barreled firearm.
A shootout ensued between the suspect and deputies.
The suspect was struck by return fire and later died at a nearby hospital.
His identity has not yet been publicly released.
Deputies discovered the two victims — believed to be neighbors of the gunman — deceased on the property, both suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.
Investigators believe the killings were targeted and directly connected to the suspect.
Out of an abundance of caution, authorities called in the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, as there was concern that the suspect may have left explosive devices at the scene. Additional support was provided by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
As per protocol, the five OCSO deputies involved in the exchange of gunfire have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the FDLE’s investigation.
The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office will oversee the homicide investigation concerning the deaths of Purvin and Debbie Evans.
Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive for the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Crime
Celeste Gusman, 66, Dies After Stabbing at Kalihi Business in Honolulu; Police Investigate as Homicide
HONOLULU, Hawaii — A 66-year-old woman has died following a stabbing at a business in Honolulu’s Kalihi neighborhood, leaving her family, friends, and the local community grieving a tragic loss.
The victim was identified as Celeste Gusman, according to the Honolulu Police Department. Officers responded to a business in the 2300 block of North School Street at approximately 3:20 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a report of a stabbing.
When officers arrived, they found Gusman suffering from a stab wound. Emergency medical personnel quickly began providing advanced lifesaving treatment at the scene before transporting her to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, Gusman later succumbed to her injuries.
Authorities also reported that another woman, who is in her 60s, sustained minor injuries during the incident. According to the information released, she was injured in a fall amid the disturbance and was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
No further details about the circumstances surrounding the second woman’s injuries have been provided.
Following the incident, police initially arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder. After Gusman died from her injuries, authorities reclassified the case as a murder investigation.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the stabbing. Police have not yet released information about what may have triggered the incident or whether the suspect knew Gusman.
The suspect’s arrest and the ongoing investigation do not establish guilt. Further details are expected as authorities continue gathering evidence and determining the events that led to the fatal attack.
The death of Celeste Gusman at 66 has brought sadness to those affected by this incident. A place of business in a familiar neighborhood became the scene of a tragedy, and loved ones are now facing the difficult reality of losing someone important to them.
While many questions remain unanswered, the loss of life has deeply affected the community. Friends, relatives, and neighbors are left remembering Gusman and hoping that the investigation will bring clarity about what happened.
Please keep Celeste Gusman’s family, friends, and loved ones in your thoughts during this difficult time. The injured woman and everyone affected by the incident also deserve support as they recover.
May Celeste Gusman rest in peace. May her loved ones find comfort, strength, and healing in the days ahead.