19-year-old arrested in Thanksgiving triple shooting that killed grandmother in her living room
Stuart, Fll (treasurecoast.com)- The Stuart Police have reported that they have charged the mane responsible for killing a grandmother who was sitting in her living room watching tv on Thanksgiving Day.
Here is the info:
ARRESTED: LONNIE BEE SMALLS III (DOB 12/10/03)
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER and THREE (3) COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
UPDATE: Thanksgiving Day Triple Shooting/Homicide – Mattie Lou Jones
On November 24, 2022, Thanksgiving Day, three people were shot, one of which was killed. Mattie Jones was in her living room watching television when she was struck by a bullet and succumbed to her injury. Two other victims survived their gunshot wounds, and a third person, who was next to the victims when shot, was not injured.
Since then, detectives from the Stuart Police Department, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, and surrounding Treasure Coast agencies have helped investigate this case as it expanded into other jurisdictions.
Today, an arrest warrant was served on Lonnie Bee Smalls III (DOB 12/10/03) for First-degree murder and three (3) counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Since the Thanksgiving Day shooting, Smalls has been incarcerated for his involvement in this case, but was not formally charged until today.
Here are some facts about the case that can be released at this time. Other facts may not be released, as this investigation is still ongoing:
• Smalls used a handgun to shoot numerous rounds at the victims in this case.
• Smalls was identified as a suspect one and a half hours after the shooting and arrested on a Violation of Probation charge six hours after the shooting. Smalls was held in jail with no bond and was not a threat to the community.
• The Martin County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Stuart Police Department with a search warrant in Indiantown, arrested Smalls, and assisted Stuart Police Detectives with gathering evidence of this crime.
• Multiple search warrants were executed.
• Multiple technological investigative techniques/laboratory forensics were used to make this arrest.
• The investigation is continuing.
“This arrest brings me some closure, and I hope some closure for the Jones family. The Stuart Police Department is continuing with the investigation, and more information will be available in the future. I would like to thank the public for your patience and understanding in this case. Criminals do not have rules, but law enforcement investigators do. I am optimistic that there will be more to follow.”
Chief Joseph Tumminelli