Fort Pierce, FL — Two 25-year-olds are facing criminal charges on the Treasure Coast after local deputies say they consumed alcohol and fired an arsenal of weapons into the ground within a residential neighborhood. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tiffany Rose Lindo and Jacob Robert Mills following a frightening weekend incident that left nearby residents severely shaken.
Deputies were dispatched to the 5100 block of Happiness Street at approximately 9:00 p.m. on September 12 after receiving 911 calls regarding active gunfire. According to investigators, Lindo and Mills fired multiple firearms—including a shotgun, a rifle, and several handguns—into the dirt. Authorities confirmed that both individuals had been drinking alcohol prior to and during the shooting spree.
While no one was physically injured, the proximity of the gunfire terrified neighbors. One resident, who lives merely 300 feet from the incident, expressed grave concern for the safety of his 5-year-old son, noting that standard drywall and wood cannot stop bullets.
“I heard two gunshots. And then I heard a barrage of AR-15 rounds, then shotgun, and then a barrage of AR-15 rounds again. It kind of freaked me out a little bit, just not knowing what direction or where they were shooting.”
Despite the alarming nature of the incident, Lindo and Mills are currently facing only misdemeanor offenses. The specific charges include:
- Discharging a firearm in a public or residential area: A first-degree misdemeanor under Florida law, punishable by up to one year in a county jail.
- Using a firearm while under the influence of alcohol: A second-degree misdemeanor carrying a potential sentence of up to 60 days in jail.
Local residents have questioned why the reckless behavior did not automatically result in felony charges. According to regional criminal defense experts, the classification of these crimes as misdemeanors aligns with current state statutes regarding the discharge of firearms on private property. The density of the neighborhood and the size of the lot are critical factors, but because the rounds were allegedly fired directly into the ground—and because no bullets struck a person, home, or vehicle—the state’s baseline misdemeanor charges apply.
Legal experts note that the presence of alcohol can still be utilized by prosecutors to firmly establish the negligent and reckless handling of the weapons during trial proceedings.
Following their arrests, both Lindo and Mills bonded out of the county jail. The Sheriff’s Office has confiscated all firearms involved in the incident to hold as evidence. However, due to the misdemeanor nature of the charges, the pair will legally have the opportunity to petition for the return of their weapons once the court case reaches its conclusion.
