Bay Vista Park Double Shooting: Details Emerge

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — St. Petersburg Police are investigating a double shooting that occurred at Bay Vista Park early Wednesday morning.

According to the agency, police were alerted to the shooting at the 7000 4th Street South park around 3 a.m. Detectives say Joetavius Deon Whitson, 24, was shot at the park by a man while a second man watched.

“While this shooting was taking place, Willie Day Brown, 29, drove into the park in a car and immediately began taking on gunfire from the suspects,” an email from police said. “Brown was struck by gunfire and fled the park in the car he was driving.”

Brown drove himself to Bayfront Health and was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

When officers went to the park, they found Whitson suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to Bayfront Health for treatment and underwent surgery, police say. Whitson was last listed in critical, but stable condition.

At this time, police say the motive for the shooting remains unclear.

No further information is being released at this time.

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