Nationwide — James Easley, an African American pastor from Riviera Beach, Florida, survived a mass shooting when a suspect opened fire and tried to carjack a vehicle. The attack left two people dead and several in critical condition.
On a Monday evening around 6:15, Easley was driving home on Martin Luther King Boulevard near the Azure Estates community when he saw a truck stopped in the road. Before he could react, gunfire erupted and he took bullets to his chest and head, according to WPTV.
The suspect, 20‑year‑old Tramonte Terrell Gibson of West Palm Beach, first shot people inside the nearby apartment area, police said. Investigators said Gibson was visiting a friend at that time and believed he was being harassed before the violence began.
Authorities reported that Gibson told them he heard voices instructing him to get a gun and shoot people. “The spirits told him to kill the demons, at which time, he shot the people that was in front of him,” the Riviera Beach Police Chief said, describing the suspect’s account during questioning.
After the initial shooting, Gibson ran onto Martin Luther King Boulevard and attempted to steal an SUV. During that carjacking attempt, he shot three more victims before fleeing the area in a stolen vehicle.
Five people were shot. One died at the scene, and another later died from injuries. The remaining victims survived with serious or non-life-threatening wounds.
Easley, senior pastor at The Life Center Church, is well known in the area for his community work, including running a daycare and helping families who need support. Neighbors and friends are now asking for prayers for all the families affected by the shooting, especially for those who lost loved ones.
Gibson was arrested later that night in St. Lucie County. He now faces first‑degree murder and attempted murder charges and is being held without bond as the investigation continues.