Reward offered for information
By Dawn Krebs
dkrebs@hometownnewsol.com
FORT PIERCE -- She was going to turn 37 in 26 days.
Instead, Qulanda Toombs was killed in the second murder of the year on Dec. 8 from multiple gunshots from a currently unknown assailant.
Officers from the Fort Pierce Police Department responded to a report of shooting activity at 12:15 a.m. on Dec. 8 on the corner of north 25th Street and Avenue K in Fort Pierce.
The responding officers found Ms. Toombs, 36, of Fort Pierce, shot four times and lying on the ground.
She was transported to Lawnwood Medical Center in critical condition, where she later died.
According to the crime report, neighbors heard two shots from the area of North 27th Street and Avenue K. Investigators also found blood and other evidence in that area.
The shooting is currently under investigation by the department's criminal investigation unit.
"Police are asking the community for any information about the circumstances surrounding her murder," said Sgt. Dennis Williams, public information officer for the police department.
The other murder of the year occurred on July 28, when Fort Pierce resident Toriell Roberts, 17, was shot to death in front of his mother by unknown assailants. The shooters were never found and the case remains unsolved.
The shooting comes at a time when the police department is attempting to purchase a system that will help detect the origin of gunshots in an area.
Called the "Shot Spotter," it uses a series of sensors to pick up loud sounds, determine if they are gunshots and relay information to 911.
The information can contain the location of the gunfire, number of shots fired, number of different types of guns fired and what direction the shooter goes afterwards. The system can also have cameras that activate and turn toward the noise to record movement. The 3-square miles the system would cover includes the location of the most recent shooting.
Chief Sean Baldwin will present information about the new system to the Fort Pierce City Commission at a future meeting.
If anyone has any information, please call Detective James Grecco at (772) 467-6833, or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at (800) 273-8477.
Tips can be anonymous and tipsters are eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information.