By Sgt. Jack Nash
PIO OCSO
OKEECHOBEE -- In the early morning hours of Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at approximately 3 a.m., the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive male inside a vehicle, possibly suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to the Debbie Park Trailer Park, located in the 400 block of NE 31st Terrace, near Bill’s Mini-Mart.
Upon arrival, deputies located 40-year-old Santos Gaucin, of Okeechobee, deceased inside his vehicle. Initial reports indicated that a resident of the park noticed the vehicle had crashed and, upon approaching to check on the driver, discovered Gaucin unresponsive and bleeding. The resident immediately called 911.
Evidence located in and around the vehicle indicated that Gaucin had suffered an apparent gunshot wound, and the death is being investigated as a homicide.
Detectives with the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, along with Crime Scene personnel, responded to process the scene and continue to actively investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Detective Casian Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office at 863-632-1972, or you may remain anonymous by contacting Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS (8477).
Further Information will be released as it becomes available.
