Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Unintended Victim Identified in Fatal Merritt Island Shooting

Victim, Tasha SmithPhoto byBrevard County Sheriff's Office

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred last week in the parking lot of Tropical Manor, located at 1165 Jordan Road, Merritt Island. Deputies were dispatched around 12:20 a.m. after receiving reports of a loud disturbance. Upon arrival, they found that a woman had been shot.

The victim, identified as 36-year-old Tasha Smith of Merritt Island, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

According to the initial investigation, the incident started as a physical altercation in the parking lot between two men. The altercation escalated into gunfire, though Smith was not involved in the conflict and appears to have been an unintended victim.

The Sheriff's Office General Crimes, Homicide, and Crime Scene Units are currently interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence to understand the full circumstances surrounding the shooting. No arrests have been made as of yet, and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Agent Vince Bustillo of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at 321-633-8413, or report anonymously through CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477). Callers to CRIMELINE may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward. Further updates will be provided by the sheriff's office as they become available.