5 Shot At Crab Festival In Williston, Florida; 1 Killed

On Saturday April 27, a crab festival in Williston, Fla. turned violent after five people were shot, killing one.

The suspect, 19-year-old Devontee Tramine Ocasio was arrested in Marion County later that day. Ocasio was initially charged with attempted first-degree murder, discharge of firearm with injury, aggravated assault with a firearm and possession of a firearm. With the fatality of Barry Barney, 36, the charges have been upgraded. Ocasio is being held on a $1.5 million bond.

The other victims include two unidentified males and two unidentified females; the extent of their injuries is unknown.

Although the event was labeling itself as a "Crab Fest," in actuality the festival is neither corporate sponsored, state advertised, nor really about crustaceans, but is largely described as "a series of unofficially organized street parties."

The gathering was promoted through word of mouth and social media, and, in past events, no sanctioned police presence or crowd-control was generally made available. The event draws numerous vendors, large crowds and numbers of vehicles to the neighborhoods east of Williston, and this forces the closing of many roads. As a result, this event has been "plagued by violence for years," according to the Levy County Sheriff's Office.

Over 10,000 people showed up to this year's "Crab Fest," and although officials tried to be prepared, there were only about 45 deputies present to keep things in order.

The Levy County Department of Public Safety had pre-staged ambulances and a medical helicopter in the area, but due to the large crowds it was almost impossible for ambulances to reach the wounded, according to a press release from the sheriff's office. Yet despite these difficulties, deputies and EMS personnel were able to evacuate the victims with the aid of law enforcement and private vehicles.