TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The Titusville Police Department met with the community Thursday evening during the North Brevard NAACP meeting to release new information about the shooting death of a man by police after the community expressed frustration over the incident. 

What You Need To Know

  • Tri-Marea Charles, 25, was shot and killed by a Titusville police officer on Feb. 7
  • The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the incident

  • The North Brevard NAACP hosted a meeting Thursday to help address frustrations from the Titusville community

  • Titusville Police Chief John Lau was granted permission by FDLE to share some information at Thursday's meeting about the case and what led to the shooting

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating after Tri-Marea Charles, 25, was fatally shot on Friday, Feb. 7.

During Thursday’s meeting, Police Chief John Lau said officers responded to a home that had been a “hot spot” for calls of service.

“The house in question that we were at over the past year has been a hot spot of calls for service,” Lau explained. “More specifically, three weeks prior to the incident last Friday night, there had been shots fired calls.”

Lau explained that the number of calls led to a search warrant being granted, where officers found drugs and a gun two days before Feb. 7.

However, the police department still received calls of shots being fired from that home, and returned Friday night, according to authorities.

Authorities said when officers arrived, people attempted to run away, including Charles.

“Mr. Charles tried to get through the front door and there were two people in front of him, one of which was a woman with a walker,” Lau said. “It looks like he tried to jump, and he tripped. When he tripped, a firearm came out of his waistband.”

An officer alerted others that there was a gun, and authorities said that is when officers got into a physical altercation with him. According to authorities, Charles picked his weapon back up, and that is when shots were fired.

Community members still expressed frustration after the meeting.

“They gave him two days to practice and say this. First of all, we didn’t hear nothing. We heard the same thing we already knew,” Carol Mccurty May said. “Y’all don’t know nothing. So why are y’all here? What did you come here for? And on Tuesday, his mouth was locked. And they gave him a chance to talk in a couple days.”

Community advocate Stell Bailey said the community would like to see public records shared following incidents like this.

“There needs to be public records to start putting out information, and this kind of community meeting should’ve happened before the city council meeting on Tuesday night,” Bailey said. “The community needs a rapport. They need to be able to ask their questions and to let out their frustrations. They have been through a lot in the last week.” 

Some members of the community said they lost trust in law enforcement and are asking for the Titusville Police Department to release body cam footage and more information.

However, Lau said that won’t happen until after the investigation is over.

Lau did say that Charles’ mother will be the first to receive the information, followed by the community and media.

Vice Mayor Herman Cole also said Charles’ mother was allowed to see her son Thursday morning for the first time.

After the FDLE is finished with its investigation, the case will be submitted to the State Attorney’s Office for review.