A series of targeted shootings erupted across Pahokee, Florida late Wednesday night February 25 2026 leaving two men dead a third wounded and a Palm Beach County sheriff deputy injured in what authorities described as a rapid 40 minute crime spree through the small city of about 5500 residents situated on the southeast shore of Lake Okeechobee in western Palm Beach County.
The violence began around 10:12 p.m. when 44-year-old Charles McCloud Jr allegedly carried out multiple attacks at residential and commercial locations within roughly a one mile radius in this rural agricultural community known for its neighborhoods and proximity to major farm roads. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw detailed the events at a news conference held near the Doveland Villas area where the final confrontation unfolded emphasizing the non random nature of the incidents that shocked the quiet lakeside town.
The first shooting took place at 171 Booker Place where McCloud fatally shot two adult males identified as 37 year old Henry McClean Jr and 40 year old Francisco Pacheco both pronounced dead at the scene by responding deputies who arrived shortly after 10:05 p.m. to discover the double homicide.
Within minutes around 10:14 p.m. reports came in of gunfire at a residence in the 8700 block of Doveland Drive where multiple shots were fired from a dark colored SUV but no one inside the home was struck. Deputies quickly secured that second location and began establishing a crime scene perimeter as additional units arrived to assist in the fast moving investigation across the interconnected streets of Pahokee.
McCloud then proceeded to a convenience store located at 750 Belle Glade Road about half a mile from the initial scenes where he shot an adult male victim in the parking lot around 10:18 p.m. The wounded man identified in some reports as Brown was rushed to medical care and later airlifted to St Marys Medical Center in West Palm Beach where he is expected to survive his injuries. This third location added to the chaos as authorities pieced together the suspect vehicle description from witness accounts at each site while maintaining focus on protecting residents in the surrounding blocks.
After the store shooting McCloud returned to the 8700 block of Doveland Drive where a deputy was actively securing the earlier shots fired scene by placing crime scene tape. The suspect driving a black GMC SUV intentionally accelerated off the main roadway striking the deputy and knocking him approximately 40 feet to the ground causing serious injuries.
McCloud then exited the vehicle armed with a 9 millimeter Canik handgun and advanced toward the downed deputy who despite his injuries drew his own firearm and fatally shot the suspect before McCloud could fire. A second detective positioned about 100 feet away also discharged rounds as backup though McCloud was already incapacitated on the ground.
The deputy sustained a compound fracture to his ankle along with other minor injuries and was airlifted by helicopter to St Marys Medical Center where he remains hospitalized but is expected to make a full recovery. McCloud was pronounced dead at the scene of the deputy involved shooting closing the spree that spanned from roughly 10:12 p.m. to 10:54 p.m.
Authorities recovered the handgun from McCloud and confirmed his identity through standard procedures noting his extensive prior criminal history that included charges for armed robbery aggravated battery resisting arrest with violence and firearms violations.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Office Violent Crimes Division along with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Palm Beach County State Attorney Office are conducting parallel joint investigations into the entire sequence including the deputy involved shooting which follows standard protocol for officer use of force cases.
Preliminary reports indicate McCloud acted out of jealousy related to men he believed were involved with his girlfriend making the attacks targeted rather than random. No other injuries occurred during the incidents and the community in Pahokee continues to process the sudden violence that disrupted this normally peaceful area along the lake while officials urge anyone with additional information or video from the scenes to contact investigators.
