Coffee Thrown, 2 Shots Fired In St. Pete Dispute

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The St. Petersburg Police Department is investigating a Sunday afternoon shooting that sent one man to the hospital with serious injuries.

According to police, two men got into an argument at the Wawa store at 2465 22nd Ave. N. around 12:45 p.m. March 19. During the dispute, Bryan Stevens, 34, is accused of throwing coffee at or on Vincent Pontone, 59.

After the coffee was thrown, police say Stevens got onto his bicycle and headed eastbound on 22nd Avenue North. Pontone, police say, left the store in a car in the same direction Stevens had traveled in.

The two men met up again at a traffic light at 22nd Avenue North and Interstate 275. Police say there are conflicting stories about what happened next, but it is believed that Stevens ended up in the median on his bicycle once again arguing with Pontone.

“Pontone alleges that he was in fear after Stevens aggressively approached him at the intersection while awaiting the eastbound traffic light to change,” a Sunday afternoon email from the police department said.

At that point, police say Pontone pulled out a handgun and fired two shots at Stevens' upper torso.

Stevens was taken to Bayfront Health. He had been stabilized as Sunday afternoon, the police department said.

The investigation into the shooting remains active, but no charges have been announced. Further information is not yet available.

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