David Lee Riggins, aged 42, tragically lost his life on August 15, 2018, in Vero Beach, Florida. The incident occurred in the Gifford area, where Riggins was found with multiple gunshot wounds in his arm, chest, and back. He was discovered lying in tall grass about 15 feet north of the road in a vacant lot between homes on the 2800 block of 43rd Street.
Despite being rushed to the Indian River Medical Center, Riggins was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The investigation quickly identified Sherman Shelly, a 47-year-old resident of Gifford, as the primary suspect. Shelly turned himself in to the Indian River County Sheriff's Office shortly after the incident, claiming he acted in self-defense. According to Shelly, the confrontation began earlier that morning when Riggins, who had just been served eviction papers, was reportedly agitated and armed with a .38 special revolver. Witnesses corroborated that Riggins had threatened to kill his landlady and her family and had shown aggressive behavior towards others, including Shelly.
During the trial, Shelly's defense argued that Riggins was the aggressor and that Shelly had no choice but to use deadly force to protect himself. Shelly testified that Riggins fired at him twice before he managed to wrestle the gun away and shoot Riggins three times. The jury ultimately acquitted Shelly of first-degree murder, accepting his self-defense claim. Shelly was released from custody following the verdict.
The case also involved a significant altercation at the Indian River County Jail, where five inmates, all facing murder charges themselves, attacked Shelly in retaliation for Riggins' death. This incident highlighted the tensions and complexities surrounding the case, as the inmates were charged with battery on a detained person for their actions against Shelly.
Overall, the death of David Lee Riggins and the subsequent legal proceedings underscore the tragic and often violent nature of disputes that can escalate to fatal outcomes. The acquittal of Sherman Shelly on self-defense grounds reflects the legal system's recognition of the complexities involved in such cases.
