St. Cloud police are investigating a shooting that occurred late Monday night at Water Tower Park, located on Pine Tree Drive east of Canoe Creek Road. Officers responded to the scene shortly after 11 p.m. following reports of gunfire.
The incident began with a confrontation between two groups of individuals in separate vehicles inside the park, which was closed at the time. A fistfight broke out for reasons still unknown, escalating when one person pulled a gun.
The conflict continued as both groups returned to their vehicles and drove east on Pine Tree Drive toward Cord Avenue. During this time, a passenger in the second vehicle fired shots from a .45-caliber gun at the first vehicle.
One of the bullets struck a passenger in the first vehicle, a Hispanic man in his early 20s, in the shoulder. St. Cloud Fire Rescue treated the victim at the scene before transporting him to a local hospital. He is expected to recover.
Detectives have spoken with the driver of the first vehicle, a Melbourne resident, but are still searching for the occupants of the second vehicle, including the shooter.
Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Tips can be shared by calling the St. Cloud Police Department’s non-emergency number at (407) 891-6700 or anonymously through Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477 or online at Crimeline.org.
This remains an active investigation, and police are determined to bring those responsible to justice.
