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Arrest made in killing of 17-year-old after Loxahatchee party

Posted at 4:17 AM, Jun 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-14 04:57:09-04

UPDATE:
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office says 19-year-old Shamar Dajhawni Lawrence was arrested Monday in connection with the homicide of Branden Jackson of Palm Beach Gardens.

Lawrence was arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has been transported to the Palm Beach County Jail and will attend first appearance on Tuesday morning.

Jackson was killed after a party June 9 west of Loxahatchee Groves.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is investigating an overnight shooting that took the life of a 17-year-old boy.  The victim has been identified as Branden Jackson of Palm Beach Gardens.

Investigators said the shooting occurred just before midnight Thursday in the 17000 block of 31st Road N, west of Loxahatchee Groves.

When deputies arrived, they found the teen dead from an apparent gunshot wound. 

Deputies said the shooting occurred while a party was ending. The motive for the shooting has not been released, and no arrests have been made.

Frank Falconeri lives on 31st Road N and says he heard arguing outside just as he was getting ready for bed.

"We heard like a confrontation, loud, loud argument. In a moment I thought, 'do I have two neighbors arguing?' because everybody knows each other here and there's nobody at feud, nobody at war. Then, pop it sounded to me like a gunshot," said Falconeri. 

Falconeri says he told his 16-year-old son to get down on the floor. He waited a few seconds to see if there would be more gunshots fired. Then he cracked open his door to find out what was happening outside. 

"I saw cars just going and kids running the street. I heard commotion, yelling, then I went out," said Falconeri.

 

He says he saw the young man lying on the ground at the edge of his driveway. He told his wife to call 911.