*DEVELOPING STORY* Commercial Vessel Discharging Gunfire at Another Vessel West of Key West
Wednesday May 4, 2016: Commercial vessel allegedly discharging gunfire at another vessel 40 miles west of Key West, Florida. Reporting vessel is running for safety at top speed. Coast Guard orders all unnecessary personnel on reporting vessel below deck…
The incident reportedly began when a recreational dive boat drove through a commercial fisherman’s chum slick while southwest of the Marquesas Keys.
Update [from U.S. Coast Guard Miami]:
The Coast Guard responded to a report of the discharge of a firearm southwest of Marquesas Key, Florida, on Wednesday.
At approximately 9:45 a.m., Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector Key West received a report from a 20-foot pleasure craft that an unidentified 45-foot fishing vessel allegedly discharged a firearm in their general direction multiple times while they were diving approximately 20 nautical miles southwest of Marquesas Key, Florida. Watchstanders from Sector Key West launched a Coast Guard Station Key West boatcrew, diverted the Coast Guard Cutter William Trump crew and diverted a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew. U.S. Customs and Border Protection also launched a boatcrew.
The William Trump crew and the Station Key West boatcrew arrived on scene and conducted a boarding of the 45-foot fishing vessel.
The Station Key West boatcrew then took positive control of both of the involved vessels and escorted them into port.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service is conducting a criminal investigation on the alleged shooting incident. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission assumed lead on an investigation into possible fisheries violations.