DeLAND, Fla. — A masked man fatally shot a 59-year-old man who was sitting beside a fire pit in a neighborhood Thursday evening, the DeLand Police Department said.
Investigators said the gunman approached four or five people who were circled around a fire pit shortly before 6:15 p.m. at West Euclid Avenue near South Clara Avenue, where he shot Terrence Gibson at least four times.
Police said the gunman, who was wearing a ski mask and black clothing, ran away from the scene.
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They said they believe the man eventually left the area in a vehicle, because K-9 dogs lost track of his scent.
"I don't think it was random. It's like he singled that particular person out," DeLand police Chief Jason Umberger said. "It's disturbing, to say the least, that somebody would be that brazen to do this in front of other people."
Leonard, who asked Channel 9 to not reveal his last name, said he and Gibson often drink around the fire pit, which sits on a vacant lot dubbed "the watering hole."
"It ain't settled in. I'm going to miss him," he said. He was a good guy, man."
Records said Gibson spent nine years in prison on a cocaine charge, beginning in 1992.
He was also arrested on charges of domestic battery in 2009 and in 2017 and child abuse in 2015, but each charge was dropped, records said.
"He would give you anything if he had it," Leonard said. "He was a good, guy. He didn't bother anybody."
The shooting remains under investigation.
No other details were given.
.@DeLandPD released the name of last night’s shooting victim: 59 year old Terrance Gibson. He was shot 4-5x while sitting around the camp fire with some other individuals. The field where he was shot is known as the watering hole. It’s a popular drinking spot. No arrests
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) February 1, 2019
Police are investigating a shooting in DeLand that killed a man in his late 50s. Police say the suspect was in a ski mask and is still on the loose. Details tonight at 10/11 on @WFTV. pic.twitter.com/N9ETqdsBDI
— Samantha Manning (@SamManningNews) February 1, 2019
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