Crestview, FL — The Crestview Police Department is investigating a Home Invasion Shooting that occurred early Saturday morning just blocks away for the police department.
According to an email from Brian Hughes, Public Information Officer for the Crestview Police Department, Tiffany Gibson called 911 reporting a home invasion at 202 Virginia Street at 1:57 a.m. on March 17th.
Officers were dispatched to the residence at 1:58 a.m. and the first officer arrived on scene at 2:00 a.m.
Hughes stated the officer rendered first aid to Gibson’s 19-year-old daughter, Baylee Mendes, who had been shot by intruders by applying pressure to the gunshot wound. Crestview Fire Department and Okaloosa County EMS arrived at approximately 2:11 a.m. and took over. Baylee was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Gibson stated in a social media post on FaceBook that Baylee and a friend of hers were outside of the residence and came running inside screaming when they thought they heard voices. As the two girls were running up the stairs, Gibson stated, “I also heard our front door being kicked in.”
Gibson described the two intruders that kicked in her front door as a black male with dreadlocks wearing a black bandana covering his face and a white male also with a bandana covering his face. Gibson further stated the first intruder shot Baylee in the lower buttocks and the bullet exited her front thigh missing her main artery. Baylee is expected to make a full recovery.
Due to the incident being an active investigation, the Crestview Police Department declined to give further details.
The Home Invasion occurred approximately three blocks, half of a mile, from the police department.
A different shooting also took place hours before the home invasion in Crestview Public Housing where the victims drove to a Waffle House for help. At this time it is unknown if the two incidents are related.
Anyone with information to the incident is asked to contact the Crestview Police Department at (850) 682-3544 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 863-STOP (7867)
Related Story: Friday Night Shooting in Crestview Public Housing Leaves Two In Critical Condition