Boca Raton drug deal, shooting caused by use of counterfeit money, according to police

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Police say a shooting that seriously injured two people Sunday night was all caused by the use of counterfeit money to purchase a quarter pound of marijuana near FAU.

Andrew Hernandez, John Addison and Tyler Doyle each sustained injuries after officers say they, along with three friends, attempted to purchase pot with fake money just before 8:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Boca Heights Apartments at 399 NW 19th Street.

After meeting with three other men inside the apartment, police say Hernandez ran out minutes later, jumped into the passenger's seat of his Mustang and told Doyle, who was driving, to "Go! Go! Go!"

That's when Doyle said he realized someone was shooting at them.

Hernandez was shot in the face, Addison was shot in the back and Doyle received minor injuries to his hand.

Officers say Doyle stated he was unfamiliar with the area, which is why he then pulled into the Oakwood Apartments parking lot.

Doyle told officers that everyone got out of the car and started yelling for help.

A resident saw the commotion.

"We came across these three guys and they were screaming for help. They wanted us to call the police so the first thing we did was call police like we should," said resident Garret LeMon.

Police say the three other friends, who had joined Hernandez, Addison and Doyle in the drug deal from a separate car, left before police arrived.

Officers say Doyle took the bag of marijuana and threw it into nearby bushes. But when officers arrived, the marijuana was recovered and Hernandez and Addison were taken to Delray Beach Medical Center.

Detectives executed a search warrant at the apartment at 399 NW 19th Street. Inside they found the counterfeit money and the identification of the apartment owner, Thomas Fenech. Detectives also located a rifle box, a receipt and shipping slip for the rifle and a box of ammunition which were similar to 21 shell casings found outside the apartment.

Police say Alexander Moreno admitted to brokering the drug deal with Hernandez at Fenech’s apartment. Police say he told detectives that Hernandez arrived and gave him about $1,200 for a quarter pound of marijuana. Hernandez took the marijuana and left.

Police say Moreno then handed the money to Anthony Proios who looked at it then handed it to Fenech, which is when they realized the money was counterfeit.

Fenech grabbed a nearby AK-47 rifle, went outside and began firing at Hernandez’s car, police say.

Moreno and two other friends returned to their dorm at FAU, according to police.

Detectives arrested and charged Fenech with three counts of attempted second degree murder with a firearm and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Proios and Tuck are charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with physical evidence, when police say they tried to dispose of the rifle. Additional charges may be pending.

Hernandez and Addison are still in intensive care. Doyle was treated and released from the hospital.