A man and woman, both Indian River County employees, were found shot to death in a parking lot behind a library in Vero Beach on Tuesday morning.
Police responded just after 7 a.m. to the back parking lot of the Indian River County Main Library, 1600 21st Street, and found both of the victims, dead at the scene.
Just after 6 p.m., County Administrator John A. Titkanich, Jr. and Chairman Deryl Loar sent a statement that identified the victims as Danny Ooley, the assistant director of Public Works, and Stacie Mason, a traffic analyst technician.
“This is not a normal day for our organization. We recognize many of our employees are grieving, and we want them to take the time they need. Supporting one another during this moment is not optional. It is essential to who we are as a County,” County Administrator John A. Titkanich, Jr. said in a statement.
Ooley worked for the county for nearly 25 years, while Mason had worked with the county since 2014.
Vero Beach police said that South Beach Park was closed Tuesday afternoon after an officer located a possible suspect’s vehicle at about 12:45 p.m.
A SWAT team, canine, helicopters, detectives and a drone were at the scene.
WPTV Reporter Zitlali Solache spoke with Matt Mulholland, who lives across the library and heard the gunfire.
“Woke up about 7 o’clock this morning to 5 to 10 gunshots, maybe more. They were really loud,” said Mulholland. It’s chilling having it happen in your own backyard. Super scary.”
A press conference will take place on Wednesday morning at Vero Beach Police headquarters.
The county administrator’s statement said police and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office had identified a person of interest.
Police said there is no threat to the public. However, they advised the community to “remain vigilant.”
“Residents with any information related to this incident are urged to contact the Vero Beach Police Department,” police said in a statement.
WPTV spoke to multiple county commissioners over the phone, one of whom confirmed the victims are two Indian River County public works employees.
The Vero Beach Crime Scene Unit is still at the scene to gather evidence.
The library was open on Tuesday.
Read the full statement from the Loar and Titkanich regarding the deaths:
Indian River County is mourning the loss of two members of our County family, Danny Ooley, Assistant Director of Public Works, and Stacie Mason, Traffic Analyst Technician, as a result of tragic shooting incident.
The City of Vero Beach Police Department, with the support of Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, is actively investigating and has identified a person of interest. We thank them for their efforts and diligence.
The reality of this loss is profound, and there are no words that can fully capture its weight. Danny and Stacie were not just employees, but colleagues and dedicated public servants who supported this community every day. Their absence is deeply felt across our organization and the community they served.
Danny Ooley devoted nearly twenty-five years of service to Indian River County Public Works, rising through the ranks to Assistant Director through experience, leadership, and commitment to service. He earned the respect of his team and leaves a lasting impact on the County he served. Stacie Mason served Indian River County since 2014, most recently as a Traffic Analyst Technician. She was known for her professionalism, reliability, and the positive presence she brought to her team. Her loss will be felt for years to come.
This is not a normal day for our organization. We recognize many of our employees are grieving, and we want them to take the time they need. Supporting one another during this moment is not optional. It is essential to who we are as a County.
Our priority is to support the families of Danny and Stacie and ensure our employees have access to care and counseling resources. Grief counselors and support services are available, and no one is expected to carry this alone.
As our County heals from this tragedy, we know that Stacie and Danny would want us to continue working hard for the public. We will take care of one another in the days ahead. We will check in, we will carry this weight together, and we ask for the public’s patience and understanding as our employee’s grieve.
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Source: wptv
