A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was killed Wednesday in Martin County at near a rest stop on a South Florida interstate, FHP officials confirmed in a statement.
Joseph Bullock, a 19-year veteran of the FHP was killed around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on Interstate 95, north of a rest area near Palm City, TCPalm reported.
“Highway Patrol and FLHSMV family is heartbroken as we mourn the tragic loss of Joseph Bullock,” the FHP said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “Please keep his family and his team members in your prayers.”
The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office originally posted to Facebook around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday that, “The members of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our condolences to our sister agency, the Florida Highway Patrol.
Bullock, an Air Force veteran, spent his entire career with Troop L out of Fort Pierce, the FHP said in its statement.
“Sadly they lost a trooper earlier today in Martin County due to a felonious act.”
That social media post has since been removed.
Authorities have not revealed what might have led to the shooting, WPEC reported.
All lanes of I-95 were shut down in both directions in Martin County, WPTV reported. The highway is expected to be closed for several hours, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.