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No Arrests Yet In Bradenton Drive-By That Wounds 5

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 28, 2008

A young man, three male teens and a 12-year-old boy are recuperating after being shot early Sunday morning in a drive-by attack in Bradenton, Manatee County authorities say.

Authorities say they found the sport utility vehicle from which the shots were fired and questioned the registered owner, who denied any involvement.

Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies said this morning that they are not getting full cooperation from the victims and that detectives say the attack could be gang-related.

"We're sure this wasn't a random incident," sheriff's spokesman David Bristow said.

No arrests have been made, he said.

Deputies said the victims were standing in front of a home at 2808 Sixth St. E. at 12:17 a.m. Sunday when a dark Chevrolet Blazer drove by, deputies said. Four to six shots were fired from the Blazer, deputies said.

A 22-year-old man was shot in the neck. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he was in stable condition Sunday. Bristow said the wound was not life-threatening.

The other victims, ranging in age from 12 to 19, all had minor injuries, deputies said.

The Tribune typically does not identify victims of violent crimes if people said to be the attackers are not in custody.

The victims told deputies they did not see the shooter and could not identify anyone in the vehicle. A Blazer found in a ditch in Ellenton on Sunday was identified as the one involved in the shooting, deputies said.

Detectives said they found and interviewed the owner, who told them he was not involved in the shooting, Bristow said.

The vehicle had not been reported stolen, Bristow said.

Anyone with information should call the sheriff's office at (941) 747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-634-8477.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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