Florida Woman Accused of Shooting Storage Facility Employee in the Face After Being Caught Sleeping Inside Unit

A routine inspection at a Florida storage facility allegedly turned into a terrifying shooting after an employee confronted a woman who was sleeping inside a rented unit. Investigators say the woman became upset when told she could not use the space as a place to live, then allegedly called the employee back before opening fire. The victim was struck in the face and forced to flee for cover as the suspect ran from the scene.

Kandice Jo Pierce, 40, is accused of shooting the employee at a Public Storage facility on Babcock Street in Palm Bay, Florida. According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred at around 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Pierce has been charged in connection with the shooting, which authorities say began after the employee discovered two women apparently staying inside a storage unit.

According to an arrest affidavit, the employee was conducting her usual morning rounds when she noticed the two women inside the unit. She informed them that sleeping or living in the facility was not permitted under the rental agreement. Pierce allegedly objected, arguing that she was the person who had rented the unit and that the two women should be allowed to stay there. The employee reportedly offered to let them leave without reporting the situation to management, hoping to resolve the matter peacefully.

The confrontation appeared to be ending when the employee began walking away. However, investigators allege that Pierce called her back. The employee then reportedly heard a loud bang and immediately felt pain in her face. She had been shot just below the eye, and the bullet remained lodged in her face, according to police. Realizing she was in danger, the injured employee ran to a nearby desk, hid underneath it and called 911 for emergency assistance.

Pierce allegedly fled after the shooting. Investigators later recovered two spent shell casings near the storage unit, supporting the account that more than one shot had been fired. Authorities initially needed to determine which of the two women inside the unit had used the weapon. The employee’s injuries were described as non-life-threatening, although the bullet remained in her face, making the incident a frightening ordeal for the victim.

The investigation took another turn when deputies located Pierce’s 16-year-old daughter at a nearby gas station. According to the arrest affidavit, the teenager told investigators that her mother had become angry because they were being forced to leave the storage unit. She allegedly said Pierce fired at the employee twice. Investigators identified Pierce as the suspected shooter in part because the rental agreement listed her name as the person who had leased the unit.

Deputies eventually located Pierce outside a nearby business and arrested her. Authorities also noted that a detective from a neighboring agency had attempted to help her find housing about a month before the shooting. Pierce was booked into the Brevard County Jail and was being held without bond, according to the report. She was scheduled to return to court on November 10, 2026. Court proceedings will determine the outcome of the allegations against her.

The case highlights how a dispute over the use of a rented storage space allegedly escalated into a potentially deadly encounter. The employee had reportedly offered the women an opportunity to leave without being reported, but investigators say the situation ended with gunfire and a serious facial injury. While the employee survived, the incident left authorities investigating not only the shooting itself but also the circumstances that led the women to stay inside the unit.

Source: Law&Crime