Florida Man Open Fires In Bar After Argument Over How Many Eggs A Hen Lays
Port St. Lucie, FL – A late-night debate about poultry production took a dangerous turn outside a Florida bar when a local chicken farmer allegedly pulled a handgun and fired four shots at three strangers, police said, all stemming from a heated argument over how many eggs a hen can lay.
The bizarre incident unfolded around 2:48 a.m. on November 4 in the parking lot of Harper’s Pub in Port St. Lucie, after the establishment had closed for the night. According to an arrest report from the Port St. Lucie Police Department, 44-year-old Peter Riera, known locally as “Farmer Pete” for selling eggs at farmers’ markets, became increasingly paranoid during a casual conversation with three patrons: Brandon Pace, 23; his girlfriend Kayla Damiani, 26; and their friend Tyler McHargue, 23.
Witnesses told officers the group had only met Riera that evening inside the bar, where the discussion innocently shifted to Riera’s chicken farming side hustle. McHargue later recounted to TMZ that Riera had been seeking advice on making extra money to support his family when he asked about the egg-laying habits of Riera’s hens. What followed was a misunderstanding: Riera reportedly accused the trio of trying to “con” him out of his earnings, escalating tensions after the group stepped outside to smoke marijuana. As the argument intensified, Riera allegedly drew a concealed firearm and opened fire, sending the three victims fleeing across the parking lot.
Miraculously, none of the shots struck anyone, and no injuries were reported. Officers arrived swiftly to a chaotic scene, where body camera footage, obtained by TMZ, captures Riera’s calm surrender as he is taken into custody without further resistance. The victims, visibly shaken, provided consistent accounts to police, emphasizing that the exchange began as friendly banter about egg production, typically around 250 to 300 eggs per hen annually, depending on breed and conditions.
Riera faces multiple felony charges, including attempted aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm in public, and possession of a firearm while under the influence. He remains held at the St. Lucie County Jail on a $435,000 bond, with an arraignment scheduled for mid-December.
In a twist, Pace and Damiani were also arrested at the scene on misdemeanor charges of obstructing or resisting an officer without violence, stemming from an unrelated scuffle with police during the arrests. Both were released shortly after posting minimal bonds.
Authorities described Riera as cooperative but “agitated” upon arrival, and the investigation is ongoing to determine if additional factors, such as intoxication, played a role. Harper’s Pub management declined to comment, citing the ongoing probe.
