OKEECHOBEE, FL — A quiet Sunday afternoon in the Brindaban Forest subdivision of Okeechobee turned tragic on July 27, 2025, when Purvin Evans and his wife, Debbie Evans, were fatally shot while sitting on the front porch of their weekend home. The couple, longtime residents of Fort Pierce, were killed in a violent encounter that ended with the suspect’s death in a shootout with law enforcement.
The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office received a call around 1:30 p.m. reporting a shooting in the residential neighborhood. According to Chief Deputy Michael Hazellief, deputies arrived to find a man dressed in all black, armed with a rifle or long gun, who immediately opened fire on them. The deputies returned fire, incapacitating the suspect, who was rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. At the scene, authorities discovered Purvin and Debbie Evans, both fatally shot, confirming their deaths as a double homicide linked to the suspect.
The Evanses, well-known in Fort Pierce for Purvin’s decades-long career in stucco construction, were described by loved ones as kind, hardworking, and deeply devoted to each other. Their Okeechobee home served as a peaceful retreat where they often spent weekends unwinding from city life. A relative, Linda Evans, shared her grief on social media, writing, “Fort Pierce just lost 2 beautiful souls. They was in Okeechobee sitting at there weekend home. When a monster killed them while sitting on there front porch.” She alleged the suspect, a neighbor, suffered from mental illness and had fired at others in the area, though authorities have not confirmed these details.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement examining the deputy-involved shooting and the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office handling the homicide case. Neighbors reported hearing 15 to 30 gunshots before deputies arrived, indicating the intensity of the incident. Five Okeechobee County deputies and one Okeechobee Police Department officer were involved in the exchange of gunfire, and the deputies have been placed on administrative leave per standard protocol.
Concerns about potential explosive devices at the suspect’s property prompted the involvement of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad, with assistance from Martin County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Authorities have assured the public there is no ongoing threat, but the investigation continues to uncover why this tragedy occurred. “This is a tragedy in many ways,” Chief Deputy Hazellief said. “We are trying to discern the why—why would this happen, why would somebody do this act? And we don’t have those answers.”
The loss of Purvin and Debbie Evans has left the Fort Pierce and Okeechobee communities in mourning. Friends and neighbors remember the couple for their warmth and generosity, with one neighbor lamenting, “They were just sitting on their porch, enjoying the day. They didn’t deserve this.” As the investigation unfolds, tributes are pouring in, and a memorial for the couple is expected to be organized in the coming days to honor their lives and legacy.