On the evening of December 25, 2024, a tragic shooting occurred in Palatka, Florida, resulting in the death of 17-year-old local resident, Dorrion McKinnon. The incident took place around 9:40 p.m. near the Palatka Daily News building on St. Johns Avenue. Officers from the Palatka Police Department were in the process of dispersing a large crowd gathered in a parking lot on North 19th Street when they heard multiple gunshots from the vicinity of the newspaper's premises.
Upon arriving at the scene, police discovered three individuals with gunshot wounds. Among them was 17-year-old McKinnon, who was transported to a nearby trauma center but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. Another victim, 23-year-old Tyree Gilyard from Crescent City, was pronounced dead at the scene, while 21-year-old Crescent City resident, Dazail Dennis, was critically injured and remains hospitalized.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the shooting may have been connected to a party initially held in St. Johns County, which was subsequently shut down, prompting attendees to relocate to Palatka. The crime scene was extensive, with approximately 75 evidence markers indicating the presence of numerous shell casings. The Palatka Daily News building itself sustained damage, including bullet holes, though no employees were present at the time.
As of now, authorities have not released information regarding any suspects or arrests related to the incident. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office are assisting the Palatka Police Department in the ongoing investigation. Community members with any information are urged to contact Lt. Colten Lee or Sgt. David Lazo at (386) 329-0115, or reach out to Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at (888) 277-8477.
