The Vero Beach Police Department has apprehended a 17-year-old male suspect in connection with a shooting incident that occurred just before the holidays at a local laundromat. The shooting, which took place on the evening of December 22, left a juvenile victim with a gunshot wound and prompted an investigation that led to the suspect’s capture early on Christmas Eve.
The Incident at Sunshine Laundry Centers
According to law enforcement officials, the shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Sunshine Laundry Centers, located at 1405 16th Street. This location is situated just west of U.S. 1 and in the vicinity of Vero Beach High School.
Investigators report that the 17-year-old suspect approached the west end of the parking lot on foot. He allegedly fired multiple rounds at a vehicle occupied by an adult driver and three underage passengers. During the gunfire, one of the juveniles inside the vehicle was struck in the lower body.
Victim Status and Investigation
Following the shooting, the victims did not immediately wait at the scene. The wounded juvenile was driven to a family member’s residence approximately four miles away before being transported to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital for medical attention. Police have described the injuries as non-life-threatening.
Back at the scene, officers recovered four spent bullet casings and reviewed surveillance footage to identify the shooter. Witnesses provided a description of the suspect, noting that he fled on foot heading south from the laundromat immediately after firing the weapon.
The investigation utilized witness descriptions and surveillance evidence to track the suspect to a residence near the crime scene, leading to an arrest in the early morning hours of December 24.
Arrest and Charges
Detectives with the Vero Beach Police Department located and arrested the teen at approximately 4:00 a.m. on December 24. Due to his age, the suspect’s name has not been released to the public. He has since been booked into the Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Fort Pierce.
The suspect is currently facing two serious felony charges:
At this time, investigators have not disclosed a potential motive for the violence, nor have they confirmed if the suspect and the victim were previously known to one another. The Vero Beach Police Department has stated that the investigation remains active.
