Florida man who fatally shot a Brevard teen charged with attempted first-degree murder on July 31
GIFFORD, FLORIDA: A Florida man has been taken into custody and charged with shooting two Brevard County teenagers that led to the death of one of them and injuring another. According to Indian River County authorities, the incident took place in late June and was initially believed to be a marijuana deal but reportedly turned into an armed robbery.
On Thursday, August 3, Antonio Christopher Woods was arrested on a warrant that charged him with attempted first-degree murder, shooting or throwing a deadly missile, robbery with a deadly weapon, and four instances of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to CBS12.
Who are the victims?
The authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the two victims. Following the shooting on June 27, an 18-year-old boy who has hospitalized for treating gunshot injuries died on Friday evening, August 4. On Saturday, Agency spokesman Sergeant Kevin Jaworski stated that following the death of the teenager, Woods is expected to be charged with a new murder or homicide-related charge, reported Treasure Coast News. With non-life-threatening injuries, a 17-year-old teen who was also shot by Woods, was released from the hospital the same day.
What led to the double shootings?
According to arrest records, the two teenagers were shot while they were inside a car with two other occupants parked at the Taylor Pointe Apartments. Deputies took Woods into custody at the same apartment complex after a monthlong investigation.
Investigators who interviewed the two occupants of the car learned the group from Cocoa Beach intended to sell marijuana to prospective buyers who directed them from Vero Beach to the apartment complex. The identity of the buyers remains unknown.
The alleged killer was among the group of people who approached the sellers and began shooting after the marijuana package was handed over. A pistol owned by the 20-year-old driver of the car was also robbed.
Accounts of the incident from those inside the car differ slightly as some of them stated the suspect opened fire as the driver "put the vehicle in drive and fled the scene," while one of the passengers stated he "rolled down the window and the male started shooting him."
After the apartment surveillance footage was checked, investigators determined the shooter in the robbery was Woods. The footage also showed those individuals who fled the scene following the double shooting. According to Sheriff Eric Flowers, Woods remains the primary suspect in the case and revealed on Friday that "he confessed." The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
