JUPITER, Fla. — Police say a man claimed he shot and killed a former employee in self-defense overnight Thursday in the Abacoa community of Jupiter.
The Jupiter Police Department said officers responded to a disturbance call in the 800 block of University Blvd. just after midnight.
A short time later, several calls were received about shots possibly fired in the area.
Police said 65-year-old Louis Rivera was stabbed outside his apartment by a former employee, 32-year-old James Dorcilien.
Rivera claimed he then fired his weapon in self-defense at Dorcilien, who fled on foot. Officers eventually found Dorcilien’s body in the apartment complex after searching the area.
Rivera was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center where he's currently in stable condition.
Residents at The Sophia of Abacoa apartment complex said they heard several gunshots overnight and knew something wasn’t right.
"Heard some verbal altercation, then heard three gunshots," said Kevin Molidor. "It was just mayhem. Helicopters and cops everywhere."
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"He ran up on us," said Charleen Alioto, Rivera's fianceé. "We were outside checking our car because he was around, and he just came running up on us."
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According to residents, Dorcilien was a maintenance worker at the complex and Rivera is the maintenance manager.
Witnesses said Dorcilien was walking around the complex in a strange manner, wearing a tuxedo, before the stabbing and shooting.
"He lost it, and it's just a huge shock to the community," said Alioto. "It's devastated our family. Nobody ever wants to take someone's life, but he had to protect our family."
"Pretty nice guy always to me," said Molidor. "It's pretty surreal."
Alioto said her fianceé is hospitalized at St. Mary's Medical Center with a severe injury to his arm that will require surgery.
Police said the investigation is currently ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
People who live at The Sophia Abacoa had just finished hearing the nearby fireworks show.. then heard several gun shots and knew some wasn’t right. Residents say complex maintenance workers got into a fight that ended with a stabbing and shooting death of one of the men. @WPTV pic.twitter.com/wOReCwmDCX
— Erica Rakow (@EricaRakow) July 4, 2019
#BREAKING Jupiter police investigating shooting death of a man inside The Sophia Abacoa apartment complex. LIVE updates on @WPTV 4:30-7am @TownofJupiter pic.twitter.com/9evCFH7mpq
— Erica Rakow (@EricaRakow) July 4, 2019