BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Following a shooting incident at the “Peace in the Hood” event held at Sara Sims Park on July 5, a 19-year-old man, Jamarion Petty, has been arrested by local authorities. The shooting, which took place shortly after 8 p.m., involved gunfire exchanged between rival gang members, affecting three women who were bystanders at the event.
Boynton Beach
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According to the police affidavit, surveillance footage revealed members of the “16th Ave Boys” gang on one side of Sara Sims Park and their rivals, the “Cherry Hill Boyz,” positioned across the street. The video showed both groups acknowledging each other before taking cover behind vehicles and opening fire.
During the altercation, Petty was identified as one of the shooters using a black handgun. The footage captures him firing multiple rounds while moving through the park, resulting in three women being caught in the crossfire.
Detectives were able to connect Petty to the incident after he voluntarily presented himself to the Boynton Beach Police Department on July 12, upon noticing a public alert describing his involvement. While he admitted to being on the surveillance footage, he did not confess to discharging the firearm.
Petty has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and discharging a weapon in public. He is currently being held without bond.
In a separate development, it has been reported that the event’s original organizer had sought a permit for a violence awareness gathering expected to draw between 50 to 100 participants on June 17, but the city of Boynton Beach officially denied this permit on June 24.
The three women victims of the shooting are reportedly considering pursuing criminal charges against the involved parties as part of the ongoing investigation.
