Fla. trooper killed in shooting
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. Feb 5 2020 — A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was killed Wednesday in Martin County “due to a felonious act,” according to the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office.
Trooper Joseph Bullock, a 19-year veteran of the Florida Highway Patrol, was “fatally wounded in the line of duty while assisting the public on I-95 in Martin County,” the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
Bullock also was an Air Force veteran.
The “shooting incident” took place at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday north of the northbound rest area on Interstate 95 near Palm City.
“The members of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our condolences to our sister agency, the Florida Highway Patrol,” the department said in a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon that has since been deleted.
“Sadly they lost a trooper earlier today in Martin County due to a felonious act.”
North and southbound lanes of I-95 are shut down at the 107 mile marker, which is 3 miles south of State Road 714, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The interstate will be closed between S.R. 714 and County Road 713 for several hours, the Sheriff’s Office said
A fire rescue official said no one was taken from the scene.
Martin County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Laurie Weber said the incident is being handled by the Florida Highway Patrol. FHP officials said they did not have any information to release yet.
Southbound I-95 has been blocked at State Road 714 (Martin Highway).
A Martin County Fire Rescue spokesman said he couldn’t comment on the nature of the injuries. He said it is a law enforcement matter.
The Wednesday shooting comes seven years after St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Morales was fatally shot in February 2013 during a traffic stop.
