WATCH: Palm Bay Community Remembers Fallen Police Officers, Four Citizens Killed in Mass Shooting 36 Years Ago

shooting happened on April 23, 1987

WATCH: April 23, 2023, marked the 36th anniversary of the deaths of Officers Ronald Grogan and Gerald Johnson. Every year the Palm Bay community gathers to remember and honor those officers for their selfless acts of bravery that day.

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – April 23, 1987, was a tragic day for the Palm Bay community when two police officers were killed, Officers Ronald Grogan and Gerald Johnson, along with four local citizens, after a gunman opened fire during a hostage situation.

Sunday marked 36 years since that terrible day took place.

The tragic day began when both officers responded to a shooting and hostage situation on April 23, 1987, in which the gunman not only took the lives of Officers Grogan and Johnson, but also killed four citizens and wounded more than a dozen others before he was taken into custody.

“Due to the heroic actions by these two officers, and others, several lives were saved that day,” said a Palm Bay Police Chief Augello.

On Monday, Chief Augello held a remembrance ceremony at Sacrifice Park.

Some members of the community that lived in the area at the time attended the remembrance ceremony.

“We will never forget the sacrifice both officers made that day and we will always honor their memory and service to our city,” said Palm Bay Police Department in a released statement.

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