OKEECHOBEE, FL — A peaceful Sunday afternoon turned into a scene of heartbreaking violence in the Brindaban Forest subdivision of Okeechobee, where Purvin Evans and his wife Debbie Evans were senselessly shot and killed while sitting on their front porch. The shooting, which authorities believe was targeted, occurred in broad daylight and ended with the suspect killed in a gunfire exchange with law enforcement.
The couple, longtime residents of Fort Pierce, were spending the weekend at their cherished second home in Okeechobee—a retreat where they often sought peace and quiet away from city life. According to the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, a man dressed in black approached their home and opened fire without warning, fatally striking both Purvin and Debbie.
Responding deputies arrived quickly, engaging the gunman in a shootout that ended in the suspect’s death. Investigators have not yet released the shooter’s identity or motive, though early evidence suggests the couple may have been deliberately targeted.
Purvin Evans was a respected and familiar figure in the Fort Pierce community, known for his decades of skilled work in stucco construction. Friends and neighbors describe the couple as kind, hard-working, and deeply devoted to one another. Their home in Okeechobee had been a place of joy and relaxation—a stark contrast to the violence that claimed their lives.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the shooting and are asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward. As the community mourns the loss of Purvin and Debbie Evans, tributes are pouring in from those whose lives were touched by their warmth and generosity.
“This was a senseless act that took the lives of two wonderful people,” said one neighbor. “They were just sitting on their porch, enjoying the day. They didn’t deserve this.”
A memorial for the couple is expected to be planned in the coming days.
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