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Tropicana plant shooting investigation underway
Kimberly Kuizon reports
BRADENTON, Fla. - One person was injured Monday night after being shot by a co-worker at the Tropicana Plant in Bradenton.
According to police, employee Demetrius Tyrone Bell, 50, entered the plant around 10:20 p.m. and shot another male employee before fleeing in a 2015 black Camaro with Florida license plate QUQF97.
"Certainly for everyone that was there last night, very scary moment, and no one wants to go to their place of work and worry about this," said Meredith Frameli, the public information officer for the Bradenton Police Department.
Police are searching for Demitrius Bell in connection with a shooting at a Tropicana plant in Bradenton.
Police say the victim was taken to an area hospital for his injuries. No other employees were injured in the shooting, and police believe the two men were involved in a dispute.
"They did know one another. It appeared the shooter was only interested in shooting the victim. We believe there was some sort of relationship. Exactly what caused it to escalate to this is something we are still working through," said Frameli.
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Car similar to the one Bell was driving. Courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department.
The police department also confirmed they are searching for a 38-year-old woman, Elecia Nicole Bing, in connection to the shooting. Bing is being considered a missing endangered person, and police said they are concerned for her safety.
She was last seen leaving the Tropicana Bradenton facility with Bell, according to officers. Bing is an employee at Tropicana Bradenton and was co-worker of the victim and Bell, authorities said.
Elecia Bing is considered missing and endangered after a shooting at the Tropicana plant in Bradenton. Courtesy: Bradenton Police Department.
Bing is 5'10," approximately 110 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Investigators said she was last seen wearing a yellow safety shirt and blue jeans.
Bell has several previous charges, including domestic violence, possession of drugs, and robbery with a gun. He's a convicted felon and should not have had a gun in his possession.
In a statement to FOX 13, Tropicana said, "We are extremely troubled by the incident that occurred at our Bradenton facility late yesterday evening. We are in close contact with our employee who was injured, as well as our full team that was impacted by this senseless act of violence, and are working closely with the local authorities on their investigation. Employee safety is our top priority, and we have taken immediate actions to ensure our facility remains a safe place to work."
The Bradenton Police Department is actively looking for Bell and Bing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jeff Beckley at (941) 932-9356 or jeff.beckley@bradentonpd.com.