A Fort Pierce couple arrested after firing multiple guns while drinking alcohol outside their residence in the 5100 block of Happiness Street have both bonded out of jail. Tiffany Lindo and Jacob Mills, both 25, were taken into custody by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office and charged with discharging a firearm in a public or residential area and using a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
Deputies seized several weapons at the scene, including a shotgun, rifle, and handguns. No injuries were reported during the incident. Sheriff Richard Del Toro said the charges are second-degree misdemeanors that could result in up to six months in jail or probation.
Del Toro explained that discharging a firearm on private property is not recommended in close residential neighborhoods, but becomes a second-degree misdemeanor when alcohol is involved. He said it would be legal if they were not using alcohol, but the fact that they were under the influence is what made it a criminal offense.
The sheriff emphasized the danger of mixing firearms and alcohol in residential areas. He said dealing with a firearm in general can be a dangerous thing, and mixing in alcohol can be very dangerous for the people around there. Del Toro said the public and the state of Florida are the victim, and the sheriff's office has zero tolerance when it comes to such conduct.
Del Toro said he supports Second Amendment rights but stressed the importance of responsible firearm handling. He said the sheriff's office wants to make sure people are being safe with firearms and emphasized that anytime someone is using alcohol, they should not use firearms.