Police: Uber Eats driver shoots armed man in self-defense
Investigators say an Uber Eats delivery driver shot a man in what appears to be self-defense outside a Pollo Tropical in Port St. Lucie

Investigators say an Uber Eats delivery driver shot a man in what appears to be self-defense outside a Pollo Tropical in Port St. Lucie.

The Port St. Lucie Police Department said officers responded around 3:43 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, to the restaurant at 1365 NW St. Lucie West Blvd. after receiving reports of a shooting.

Officers found Christopher Harris, 37, suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. He was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where officials say his injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening.

According to Port St. Lucie Police Chief Leo Niemczyk, the man who fired the shot is an Uber Eats delivery driver.

Niemczyk told WPBF 25 News the incident started over a parking spot.

“He [Harris] pursued him inside. There was a little interaction in the doorway entrance. The Uber Eats driver went inside, picked up his order, went out, and the other person pursued him outside, shoved him and pulled out what appeared to be a knife, what was identified to be a knife,” he said.

Niemczyk said the Uber Eats driver shot Harris once in the chest.

“Christopher Harris. He was the aggressor. He pursued the other individual. He followed him back outside. He shoved him. He pulled out a weapon,” Niemczyk told WPBF.

He said that justifies the man who pulled the trigger defending himself.

“It’s self-defense. It also fits the stand-your-ground rule because he is being pursued. He has no duty to retreat. In fact, he did try to retreat. He did try to avoid the situation, but he was pursued. So 100%, he turned around and used appropriate action. He met deadly force, being a knife, with deadly force by firing one round. It appears to be 100% justifiable,” Niemczyk said.

After being shot, officials say Harris went back inside the restaurant, where people began providing aid and called 911.

Investigators said one knife was recovered after it had been removed from Harris’ waistband while people were helping him. Police said another knife was later found in his front pocket.

Harris is facing charges of attempted aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and felony battery based on a prior battery conviction. Officials say once he is released from the hospital, they expect him to be booked in the St. Lucie County Jail.

The Uber Eats driver is not facing criminal charges in the case.