Thirty years ago this weekend, gunfire erupted in Palm Bay -- a shooting rampage that left six people dead including two police officers.

  • 1987 mass shooting at Palm Bay shopping center
  • William Cruse shot people at random, killed 2 police officers and 4 others
  • Officers killed: Ronald Grogan and Gerald Johnson

"I get a nauseous feeling in my stomach every year, " said retired Lieutenant Don Smith, who knew Officers Ronald Grogan and Gerald Johnson well, and was on duty the day of the shooting.

On Friday fellow officers gathered to remember the men, who were shot and killed in a shopping center where suspect 59-year-old William Cruse was gunning people down at random.

Cruse had taken hostages at a grocery store, and shot Grogan before he could get out of his patrol car.

Johnson arrived and was shot in the foot. Moments later he was killed execution-style.

Four others were shot and killed in this parking lot that day -- April 23, 1987.

A wreath was laid in Sacrifice Park, next to the police department -- a memorial to fallen local officers.

"They were very personable individuals, very dedicated to the cause. Excellent police officers, and they gave the ultimate sacrifice," Smith said.

William Cruse was convicted and died in prison in 2009 at the age of 82. He was the oldest inmate on Florida's death row.


Officers Ronald Grogan and Gerald Johnson were killed April 23, 1987, when William Cruse opened fire in a Palm Bay shopping plaza. Four other people were also killed. (Greg Pallone, Staff)