FORT MEADE, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to a triple shooting in Fort Meade on Monday night.
Deputies say that the shooting occurred around 6:45 p.m. in the 400 block of 3rd Street SW, nearest cross street, Palmetto Street South.
According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, 30-year-old Calvin Johnson could be heard yelling at 40-year-old Charles Peddycoart and his girlfriend about Johnson's missing dog. Deputies say Johnson repeatedly accused the couple of stealing his pit bull.
Investigators say that earlier in the day, the couple had walked to a nearby store and a pit bull began following them. The couple says they attempted to shoo the dog away, but it continued to follow. When they left the store, the dog was gone.
On their walk home, Peddycoart's girlfriend was approached by Johnson who asked if she had seen a couple walking with a dog, to which she replied "no." She then realized Johnson might have been asking about them, so she went back down the road and told him about the dog following them.
She told investigators that Johnson became irate with her because she didn't return his dog. She said she didn't know who owned the dog, which had no tags or collar. Johnson sped away in his car, leaving the woman feeling uneasy about his behavior toward her, according to a press release.
A short time later, deputies say Johnson returned to the home and knocked on the door. Peddycoart and his girlfriend stepped outside and saw that 18-year-old Edward Burgess and 30-year-old Teconsa McDonald were also on the porch.
Johnson reportedly began to yell at the couple, accusing them of stealing his dog — which they denied.
Johnson made threats to the couple and witnesses reported that the three men were right up in the couple's face on the porch, plus as many as five more people in the front yard.
Deputies say that Peddycoart warned the men to leave and that he had a gun. Johnson reportedly said, "I don't care about that gun!"
Following the warning, they continued to threaten the couple and shots were fired. Peddycoart shot the three men who were on his porch, deputies say.
McDonald was pronounced deceased. Johnson and Burgess were both shot in the torso, Sheriff Grady Judd said in a press conference Monday night. They were transported to the hospital where they both underwent emergency surgery.
PCSO says that neither Peddycoart or his girlfriend knew the three men and have had no previous interactions with them.
Peddycoart has not been arrested at this time. Deputies are continuing to talk to witnesses and gather more information. The investigation continues.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
