Crookshank identified as murder victim

Just one month short of his 30th birthday, Paul Gerald Crookshank, who resided at 7 Beacon Street, was identified by police as the man who was gunned down during an argument at the Giggling Gator Pub located at 121 King Street; according to reports received by Historic City News.

His accused assailant 41 year-old Christopher Linus Fries, is charged with capital murder and remains in custody this morning. He is being held without bond.

This latest violent incident occurring at the Giggling Gator Pub on King Street in St. Augustine Saturday night at about 8:30 p.m.

In recent months, the Giggling Gator has been the scene of another high-profile, violent crime — when an illegal alien from Nicaragua was arrested after he allegedly attacked and sexually assaulted a woman when she left the pub to make a phone call. In the incident reported by Historic City News on June 18, the victim was choked and beaten until she was rendered unconscious.

Crookshank is a St. Augustine native; born here on October 7, 1981. He attended St. Augustine High School; graduating from Penn Foster High School.

Fries, who resides at 410 22nd Street in Saint Augustine, was observed by a witness who recalls him brandishing a handgun and arguing loudly with his victim in the parking lot.

Public Information Officer Mark Samson told local reporters that police were in route to the scene of the disturbance when Officer Frank Shipp heard the gun go off. Shipp secured the firearm and Fries within moments after the gunshot was heard; aided by Corporal Brian Frasca.

According to police, both men had been drinking and they are believed to have been arguing with each other over a woman. Police say Fries shot his victim behind the left ear; they did not report the number of times Fries fired his weapon.

Crookshank received emergency medical treatment at the scene; however, he died before he arrived at Flagler Hospital.

Police ordered the pub “closed” for several hours. A secure perimeter was established until a team of crime scene technicians from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office arrived to collect available evidence.

Fries was booked at the St. Johns County Detention Facility at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday morning.