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South Walton Fire District (SWFD) firefighters responded to a shooting incident Thursday evening alongside Walton County Sheriff’s Office
(WCSO) deputies, in which firefighters transported two individuals with gunshot wounds and extinguished a fatal vehicle fire.
SWFD dispatchers received the 911 call at 11:03 p.m. stating an unknown person was shooting at cars near the round-a-bout intersection of Heron Walk
Drive and Baytowne Avenue in Sandestin. The 911 caller was reporting an adult male had been shot.
SWFD units enroute to the shooting discovered a vehicle fire in a wooded area just west of Sacred Heart Hospital. Firefighters were instructed to
not approach the vehicle fire as it was potentially linked to the shooting and the scene was not secure.
When SWFD firefighters arrived at the round-a-bout, they were met with a male patient who was in the custody of WCSO deputies and required treatment
for a gunshot wound. Deputies identified the individual as the suspected shooter. SWFD treated and transported the patient in stable condition to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center as a trauma alert.
Minutes later, additional SWFD firefighters were requested to the area of the Courtyard by Marriot for two individuals reporting minor injuries. They
did not require transport.
At approximately 11:30 p.m., firefighters made contact with the patient from the original 911 call near Baytowne Wharf and treated their injuries,
then transported them in stable condition, also as a trauma alert to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Subsequently, firefighters began extinguishing the vehicle fire. Upon extinguishment, a deceased individual was located within the vehicle and the
scene was turned over to law enforcement as part of the potential investigation.
In total, firefighters responded to four patients at this incident, two required transport. SWFD is unable to provide further patient information at the time of this release.
Questions related to the incident’s investigation should be directed to WCSO.
