Peter Riera, 44, opened fire at Brandon Pace, 23, Kayla Damiana, 26, and Tyler McHargue, 23, outside a Florida bar after a discussion about egg production turned violent
A Florida man unleashed gunfire on a group of strangers during a heated debate about chicken egg production earlier this month.
The barmy confrontation kicked off outside a pub and rapidly spiralled from innocent chatter into chaos that sent punters diving for cover. Peter Riera, 44, rang police on November 4 claiming he’d been mugged and was being pursued by three individuals in Port Saint Lucie in the US.
Brandon Pace, 23; Kayla Damiana, 26; and Tyler McHargue, 23, had been chatting with Riera that evening about poultry and egg laying. They told officers the discussion had intensified to where Riera – who’d presented himself as Farmer Pete – became suspicious and believed the trio were planning to “jump him”, reports the Express.
Onlookers verified that Riera accused the other three of attempting to “con” him, whipped out a firearm and discharged four shots at the group. Nobody sustained injuries following the incident, but in video secured by CBS 12, Riera is visible being detained, wearing denim dungarees and without shoes.
In an unexpected twist, the victims were also nicked: Pace for booting two constables whilst being held and Damiani for attempting to prevent them from arresting Pace. Farmer Pete is confronting numerous charges for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, firing a gun in public, and additional offences, whilst being detained on a $435,000 bond.
Subsequently, speaking with TMZ, McHargue revealed Farmer Pete had been asking the group how he might earn additional cash to provide for his family. He alleges that Tyler innocently enquired about the number of eggs his chickens typically lay, as he sells eggs at a farmer’s market.
This question was reportedly misunderstood, sparking a row in which the man believed he was being swindled. Outside the pub, Farmer Pete brandished a firearm and threatened to shoot them, but then retreated. However, from another part of the car park, he fired towards them, with one bullet whizzing past McHargue’s head.
