Fort Pierce Police release name of man who jumped off bridge
FORT PIERCE – Fort Pierce detectives have identified the man who jumped off the Seaway Bridge into the Intercoastal Waterway on Tuesday and drowned.
No foul play is suspected in the death of Dontavius Atkins-Slater, 27, of Fort Pierce.
On April 3, 2018 at about 9:30 p.m., Fort Pierce Police officers responded to a drowning. Several witness reported seeing Atkins-Slater climb over the rail on the south side of the bridge and jump. Once in the water, witnesses said the he began screaming for help and struggling to stay afloat.
When officers arrived, they saw Atkins-Slater approximately 200 yards off shore east of the River Walk Center, located at 600 N. Indian River Drive. Fort Pierce Officers John Ward, Stephen Schroeder and Detective Kacey Davis immediately entered the water and began swimming towards the male. As the officers reached the first barrier island, they lost sight of Atkins-Slater forcing them to return to the shore. Additional Fort Pierce Police Officers canvassed the shoreline looking for personal items or anyone who could help identify the Atkins-Slater.
The Fort Pierce Marine Unit, United States Coast Guard, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Air 2 Unit, Marine Unit and Dive Team joined effort. An extensive five-hour search was conducted until water conditions became too dangerous to continue and the effort was postponed at 3:30 a.m. April 4, 2018. Later that day, the marine unit located Atkins-Slater using sonar equipment and the dive team recovered his body.
The body was found in the area where Atkins-Slater was last seen.
