A tragic and shocking event unfolded on the Treasure Coast, with a critical connection to Vero Beach leading to a major arrest. Landen Ballard, 20, is currently being held in the St. Lucie County Jail without bond, facing charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence following the fatal shooting of a Fort Pierce store manager.
The incident occurred on the evening of April 28 at a We Buy Gold store in Fort Pierce. According to the arrest warrant, Ballard and two unnamed individuals arrived at the business. Ballard sat down and engaged in a casual conversation with 35-year-old Lanessa Rodriguez, the store manager who had reportedly offered him work in the past. Without warning, Ballard allegedly produced a concealed 9mm handgun and fired multiple shots, ultimately emptying his magazine before fleeing the scene.
The case broke wide open later that evening in Vero Beach. At approximately 11:00 p.m., the unnamed woman who drove the getaway vehicle made contact with local authorities in Vero Beach. She reported that after the shooting, she was forced under the threat of death to drive Ballard and another male accomplice back to the crime scene so Ballard could rob the store. Upon seeing the heavy police presence, the trio fled north to Vero Beach. Once she dropped the two men off, the driver immediately went to the police to report the murder.
During the drive toward Indian River County, Ballard allegedly discarded the murder weapon and its magazine out of the passenger side window. The firearm was later recovered by law enforcement along the roadway. The driver also detailed chilling statements made by the suspect during their escape.
As they fled the scene, Ballard allegedly bragged about the shooting, asking the driver, “Is it bad that I have no remorse?”
Surveillance footage from inside the We Buy Gold store corroborated the driver’s account, capturing the seemingly relaxed interaction before the fatal violence. Investigators noted that Rodriguez desperately reached for a phone to call for help in her final moments. Rodriguez, a transgender woman known in the local community for her huge heart, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Working alongside Fort Pierce authorities, police were able to track Ballard to his parents’ residence. A recorded phone call during the investigation captured Ballard reiterating his lack of remorse and detailing his imminent plans to flee the state for New York. He was swiftly apprehended before he could leave the Treasure Coast.
Key Case Details:
- Suspect: Landen Ballard, 20, charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
- Victim: Lanessa Rodriguez, 35, store manager at a Fort Pierce We Buy Gold location.
- Vero Beach Connection: The getaway driver fled to Vero Beach and reported the crime to local police, leading to the suspect’s arrest.
- Current Status: The suspect is being held without bond at the St. Lucie County Jail.
