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Police: 19 year old killed man who fatally shot Deerfield Beach football player following Riviera Beach funeral

Derrick E. Peoples
Posted at 1:27 PM, Feb 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-22 01:59:04-05

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — A 19 year old is in a Palm Beach County Jail after police said he shot and killed a 47-year-old man after a spree of gunfire earlier this month in Riviera Beach.

Terrance Jackson Jr., 15, a 10th grader and football player for Deerfield Beach High School, died in the Feb. 1 gunfire, which happened just moments after a funeral ended at Victory City Church.

Police said Royce Freeman, 47, shot and killed Jackson Jr. A short time later, Freeman was then fatally shot by 19-year-old Derrick Peoples, said investigators.

A third person was shot but survived their wounds in the hail of bullets.

A Riviera Beach probable cause affidavit said a surveillance camera belonging to nearby St. Francis Church was used in the investigation.

Police said video showed a black Nissan Altima was spotted driving eastbound on West 20th Street, which stopped and several people were spotted exiting the car and walking toward a crowd.

The Nissan sped away but returned and headed back toward the crowd.

Police said Freeman was identified on the video walking with the crowd toward the car and a fight ensued. The Nissan then sped off and appeared to hit several pedestrians.

Investigators said it appeared that Freeman's movements showed he retrieved a firearm, and the crowd reassembled with another fight ensuing.

Police said Freeman was spotted having an altercation with Jackson, seconds before the Deerfield Beach football player is seen falling to the ground. Freeman was spotted with the silhouette of a firearm in his left hand, said police.

Seconds later, multiple gunshots were fired and Freeman was seen falling to the ground.

As people began to crowd around Freeman, police said Peoples was spotting standing in the crowd pacing close to Freeman.

With two to three people attending to Freeman, the affidavit said video showed Peoples racking a firearm, take a shooting stance and later fleeing the area. Police said Freeman appeared to be shot four times.

Police said surveillance videos showed three gunmen use two guns to fire a total of 12 shots in the incident. It's unclear if the third shooter will face charges.

The affidavit does not provide a motive for the killings.

Riviera Beach police said Peoples was arrested without incident Feb. 13 in Gainesville by members of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force.

He was extradited to Palm Beach County on Friday and charged with one count of first-degree murder with a firearm.