A 40-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday, October 11, and charged with attempted murder after a storage facility manager was shot in Palm Bay, Florida, the day before. Kandice Jo Pierce was taken into custody in connection with a shooting at a Public Storage facility on Babcock Street that authorities say happened around 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 10.
TL;DR: The manager discovered two women sleeping inside one of the storage units and told them to leave; one of the women then retrieved a firearm and fired two rounds, with one round striking the manager, who suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening. Pierce was arrested the following day and also faces an unrelated arson charge and a charge of shooting or throwing a missile in a dwelling. Deputies searched the area with the help of a helicopter, and the search for the second woman was underway.
Confrontation at the Storage Units
Around 10 a.m. on Saturday, the manager of the Public Storage facility on Babcock Street in Palm Bay found two women sleeping inside one of the storage units. The manager told the women they needed to leave the unit. According to the sheriff’s office account reported by Florida Today, one of the women then retrieved a firearm.
She fired two rounds, and one of the shots struck the manager. The manager’s injuries were described as non-life-threatening. The shooting turned what began as a routine confrontation over unauthorized use of a storage unit into a violent crime scene that drew a large law enforcement response to the Babcock Street facility.
Pierce Arrested on Multiple Charges
Kandice Jo Pierce, 40, was arrested on Sunday, October 11, in connection with the shooting. She was charged with attempted murder. She also faces an unrelated arson charge, along with a charge of shooting or throwing a missile in a dwelling, according to the report. The arson charge is described as unrelated to the storage facility shooting.
Pierce is presumed innocent, and the charges are accusations at this stage. The case remains under investigation, and authorities have not released further details about what led the women to be sleeping in the storage unit.
Helicopter Joins the Search for a Second Woman
After the shooting, deputies searched the surrounding area, with a helicopter assisting in the effort from above. A second woman who was present at the storage facility had not been located, and the search for her was underway at the time of the report. Investigators are continuing to piece together exactly what happened in the moments before the gunfire.
What Comes Next in the Case
Pierce now faces the criminal justice process in Brevard County, where prosecutors will decide how the attempted murder charge and the additional counts move forward. The unrelated arson charge will be handled on its own track, separate from the shooting case. As with every criminal case, Pierce is presumed innocent, and the charges against her are accusations unless and until proven in court.
Meanwhile, investigators are still looking for the second woman who was at the storage facility when the shooting happened. Anyone with information about her whereabouts, or about the shooting itself, can contact the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in connection with the Palm Bay storage unit shooting?
Kandice Jo Pierce, 40, was arrested on Sunday, October 11, in connection with the shooting at the Public Storage facility in Palm Bay, Florida.
What charges does Kandice Jo Pierce face?
She is charged with attempted murder, an unrelated arson charge, and a charge of shooting or throwing a missile in a dwelling.
Where did the shooting take place?
At a Public Storage facility on Babcock Street in Palm Bay, Florida.
When did the shooting happen?
Authorities say the shooting happened around 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 10; Pierce was arrested the following day, Sunday, October 11.
What led up to the shooting?
The facility manager found two women sleeping inside one of the storage units and told them to leave. According to the sheriff’s office account, one of the women then retrieved a firearm and fired two rounds.
How seriously was the storage facility manager hurt?
The manager was struck once. The injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Is anyone else being sought in connection with the shooting?
A second woman was present at the scene. Deputies searched the area with the help of a helicopter, and the search for the second woman was underway at the time of the report.
Where can I read the original report?
The incident was reported by Florida Today.
