Man arrested after shots fired at Pollo Tropical in Florida

A 37-year-old man was arrested after he was shot at a Pollo Tropical location in Port St. Lucie on the afternoon of Sept. 19, according to police officials.

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Christopher Harris was arrested and charged with attempted aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and felony battery with a prior battery conviction, according to Port St. Lucie police officials via Sept. 21 news release.

Port St. Lucie police officers went just before 3:45 p.m. Sept. 19 to the restaurant at 1365 N.W. St. Lucie West Blvd. after they received reports of a shooting, according to officials.

When they arrived, they found Harris suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso, according to officials. Harris was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce with non-life-threatening injuries.

The other man involved, 25-year-old Isaiah Davis, was detained at the scene while detectives investigated the shooting, according to officials, and officers recovered a firearm.

Through multiple witness interviews and a review of surveillance footage from the restaurant, according to officials, detectives determined an encounter between Harris and Davis began after the two men had an interaction in the parking lot.

Detectives learned Davis walked into the restaurant to pick up a food delivery order, according to officials. Surveillance video footage showed Harris following Davis inside the restaurant despite not appearing to place or pick up an order. As Davis walked out of the restaurant, Harris followed him outside.

Exterior surveillance video footage showed Harris pushing Davis and then advancing toward him while Davis moved backward, according to officials. Detectives determined Harris was armed with a knife during the confrontation, and witnesses also reported seeing Harris with a knife just before the shooting.

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Davis then fired one round, hitting Harris in the chest, according to officials. Harris then went back inside the restaurant, where people began helping him and called 911.

During the investigation, officers recovered a knife from Harris’ waistband while he was being helped, according to officials. Another knife was later found in Harris’ front pocket.

Detectives determined Harris was the primary aggressor, according to officials, and he would be booked in the St. Lucie County Jail when released from the hospital.

Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Man arrested after shots fired at Pollo Tropical in Florida

Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers

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This story was originally published September 21, 2026 at 10:49 AM.