St. Lucie County released body camera footage of deputies being shot at during a traffic stop

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office released body camera footage of deputies being shot at during a traffic stop and discussed an increase in violence on the Treasure Coast on Thursday.

During the news conference, deputies showed body camera footage of the department's response and the sheriff said bullets could be heard whizzing in the video.

"It was chaos," Sheriff Ken Mascara said during the news conference.

Mascara released a statement on Facebook Wednesday evening stating that officials were trying to conduct a traffic stop at about 6:45 p.m. on the 1200 Block of North 17th Street when occupants inside the vehicle fired at deputies.

"Thankfully, none of our deputies were injured," Mascara said.

He noted that at least 13 rounds were fired in the neighborhood.

Deputies said there was another person in the area who was walking with a cellphone that resembled a gun and who didn't stop when asked, causing officers to fire one shot at them in the video. The person laid down in response and deputies realized what was going on, Mascara said. The two deputies are on paid administrative leave per protocol and the person wasn't injured.

The suspect's vehicle will not be released as part of the investigation.

The sheriff said the Treasure Coast law enforcement officials are noticing an increase in violence since the homicide of Johnny Green on Sept. 7 and commented that they are inferring there has since been retaliatory gang violence.

"The whole Treasure Coast has a lot of gangs," Mascara said.

The sheriff's office said there are between 10 and 50 gangs in the area, but what's unique now is the crossing of county lines.