On April 20, 2024, a fatal shooting occurred in the 100 block of 80th Avenue Northeast in St. Petersburg, Florida. The incident took place around 1:18 p.m. when officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department responded to reports of a person shot. Upon arrival, they found 21-year-old Marcus Rivers deceased in his vehicle. A 17-year-old, later identified as Tyvion Royal, was also found with a gunshot wound and was transported to Orlando Health Bayfront St. Petersburg hospital.
Royal was initially in critical condition but later reported to be in stable condition.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was a targeted attack, likely related to drugs. Three men approached Rivers in his vehicle, and shots were fired, resulting in Rivers' death and Royal's injury. The police believe that the suspects and the victim were known to each other, and the incident did not pose a wider threat to the community.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting. The first suspect, Tyvion Royal, the 17-year-old who was injured, is being charged with first-degree felony murder, armed robbery, and delinquent in possession of a firearm. A second suspect, 16-year-old Samarion Douglas, was arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder and armed robbery. The third suspect, 16-year-old Randy Reynolds, was also arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder and armed robbery with a deadly weapon.
The St. Petersburg Police Department has confirmed that the public is not in danger and that this was an isolated incident. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are seeking any additional evidence, including footage from home surveillance cameras in the area.
