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| A repairman installs new glass at the Mystic gas station Wednesday in NSB, two days after a drive-by shooting. NSB News photos by Sera King |
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mayor Sally Mackay said Monday night's drive-by shooting at the Majestic gas station is an aberration in an otherwise "friendly city" and wants to ensure the public that the police are vigilant in their investigation.
"It is of great concern to me what happened," Mackay said Wednesday night. "I am absolutely certain that we do a careful investigation and that we do our best to keep our citizens safe. This is New Smyrna Beach, a friendly city where we look out for each other."
The mayor said she is cognizant that with 10 people inside the gas station at 8:30 p.m. when bullets were fired, the scene could have been a bloodbath, but fortunately, everyone hit the deck and the gunmen fled after firing at least eight rounds.
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"We want them caught, certainly," Mackay said, "and the police are doing everything they can."
New Smyrna Beach police Cmdr. Wade Kirby was tight-lipped about what he described as an open and active investigation, saying only that Detective Dan Kennedy is the lead investigator on the case and that all possible leads are being pursued on a number of fronts.
Police believe the shooting stemmed from an earlier dispute between patrons, but had nothing to do with the gas station or its employees. A car pulled up and shots were fired -- resulting in the shattering of a large double-glass pane near the register and several bullet holes in the pane next to it. The clerk called 911.
Large plastic sheets that were put in place of the 4-foot wide by 8-foot high glass pane that shattered were replaced with new glass and the bullet-riddled smaller pane was replaced as well Wednesday afternoon. The Majestic gas station, 218 N. Dixie Freeway, is one of three prominent New Smyrna Beach stations that stay open 24 hours a day, along with the 7-Eleven about a half mile further north on Dixie and the Circle K on State Road 44.
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| The Mystic gas station is a popular hangout at night as shown in this photo taken just before midnight Wednesday. |
Majestic, however, is a popular hangout where people openly sit on a few milk cartons and drink beer in brown paper bags while others ride bicycles in and out as was the case Wednesday night just before midnight when a half dozen people were hanging around out front.
One woman out front who was dressed provocatively said she hopes the gunmen are caught. "This is crazy what they did man. They've got to be caught."
A summary of police calls to the Majestic over the past year preceding Monday's shooting show most of the 61 calls were for petty crimes or complaints, though there was one armed robbery and a couple of domestic fights.
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