Suspect in shooting questioned, released

Two men who have been romantic partners with the same woman and did not get along fought for the last time Monday when one was accused of fatally shooting the other, Boynton Beach police said.

The gun violence began about 6:30 p.m. after Philorius Joseph, 32, of Delray Beach, drove the mother of his children to her mother’s apartment in the Clipper Cove complex on Southern Cross Circle, said Stephanie Slater, spokeswoman for Boynton Beach police.

Evan Herring, 28, of Boynton Beach, who also has a child with the woman, was there and confronted Joseph, Slater said Tuesday in a news release.

The woman was not named by authorities.

Joseph told police encounters with Herring have escalated, that he takes steps to avoid seeing him and that on Monday night, Herring lunged at him, punched him in the face and took a fighting stance, Slater said.

Joseph recently had surgery and could not fight back, he told police. Joseph has a license to carry a concealed firearm and told detectives he feared for his life and shot Herring, according to Slater.

Joseph remained at the scene and immediately surrendered to officers. He was in custody and questioned for six hours after the shooting, and was not arrested or charged with any offense, Slater said.

Whether his actions were protected under Florida’s stand your ground law is part of the investigation, she said.