Palm Bay, Florida — A 40-year-old woman is facing an attempted murder charge after authorities say she shot a storage facility employee in the face following a confrontation over sleeping inside a rented unit.
Kandice Jo Pierce was arrested after the shooting at a Public Storage facility in the 4000 block of Babcock Street in Palm Bay, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. The incident reportedly happened around 10 a.m. Saturday, after an employee discovered two people who appeared to be living inside a storage unit.
The employee survived the shooting but suffered a facial injury, with the bullet remaining lodged in her face, according to the arrest affidavit.
What Happened at the Palm Bay Storage Facility?
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, the employee was conducting her morning rounds when she noticed two females who appeared to be staying inside a storage unit.
The employee told them that sleeping or living inside the unit was not permitted under the facility’s rules.
Pierce allegedly responded that she had rented the unit and believed they should be allowed to stay there. The employee reportedly told Pierce that if they left the property, she would not report the situation to management.
The employee then began walking away from the unit. However, according to the affidavit, Pierce called her back. The employee subsequently heard a loud bang and felt pain in her face. Investigators say she had been shot during the encounter.
Employee Hid Under Desk and Called 911
After the shooting, the employee ran for cover and hid under a desk while calling 911 for help. According to investigators, the victim suffered a small entry wound on her face below the eye. The bullet remained lodged in her face, authorities said.
The shooting prompted a law enforcement investigation at the storage facility. Investigators later found two spent shell casings near the unit, according to the affidavit.
Authorities have not provided further details about the victim’s recovery or released additional information about the firearm allegedly used in the incident.
How Investigators Identified Kandice Jo Pierce
Investigators identified Pierce as a suspect because her name appeared on the storage unit’s lease, according to the arrest affidavit.
The investigation also involved information from a detective with a nearby agency who had reportedly tried to help Pierce with housing approximately one month earlier.
That detective told investigators that the other person staying in the unit was Pierce’s 16-year-old daughter. Deputies later located the teenager at a nearby gas station as they continued investigating the shooting.
Teen Allegedly Described What Happened
According to the affidavit, Pierce’s daughter told investigators that her mother was upset because they were being told to leave the storage unit.
The teenager allegedly said that Pierce shot at the employee twice during the confrontation.
The account formed part of the evidence described in the arrest affidavit. Authorities have not publicly detailed every piece of evidence gathered during the investigation.
The allegations remain part of the criminal case, and Pierce is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Woman Arrested and Held Without Bond
Pierce was not with her daughter when deputies located the teenager. Authorities later found Pierce in front of a nearby business and arrested her.
She faces a charge of attempted murder and remains in the Brevard County Jail without bond, according to the information provided by authorities.
Her next court date is scheduled for November 10.
The case centers on a confrontation over the alleged use of a storage unit as living space that escalated into a shooting. Investigators’ findings, witness statements and other evidence will be relevant as the criminal proceedings move forward.
Authorities have not released further details about the victim’s condition or indicated whether additional charges may be filed.
What do you think storage facilities should do when they discover people sleeping inside their units? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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