'Gunfight' Erupted at Clearwater Motel, Deputies Say

A Wednesday morning call to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office about shots fired at a Clearwater Rodeway Inn resulted in a few unusual discoveries and the arrest of three people.

When deputies responded to the call at 16405 U.S. 19 N. around 10:46 a.m., they immediately noticed shell casings in the parking lot. Shells were also found on the motel’s third-floor outdoor breezeway. An investigation into the origins of those casings led them to Andrea Vivona, 26, and Melvin Woodward, 27, an email from the agency to media stated.

“Deputies determined that a gun fight had ensued on the back (east) side of the hotel and through various investigative techniques tied Vivona and Woodward to the exchange of gunfire,” the email said.

While deputies have said both were arrested, they have not stated just what prompted the bullet battle. They did, however, say that a third person also found himself headed to jail after the incident. Ernest Brown III, 33, was arrested on charges of child abuse and culpable negligence after deputies say they determined he “provided a gun to a minor involved in the shots fired call,” the email said.

The minor, who is not being identified, faces misdemeanor charges for firing a gun. Both Vivona and Woodward were charged for being felons in possession of a firearm.

No injuries were reported in the incident. The case remains under investigation.

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