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Divers search for 'vital' evidence in 2014 case

Posted at 8:01 PM, Apr 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-15 04:09:39-04

There is a possible break in a two year old cold case.

Investigators searched the Indian River Lagoon in Vero Beach for evidence linked to the death of Dominique Dawson, who was found dead outside his home in 2014.

Deputies say after interviewing about 40 people in this case, they received a tip that a firearm may be at the bottom of the lagoon.

Below the Barber Bridge in Vero Beach, Captain Tony Consalo hopes this is the break he needs after 23 months.

"Anytime we get new information on a case, we get excited," says Consalo.

Divers looking for a murder weapon thrown off the bridge.

"As they approach towards the top of the bridge, discarded the firearm on the south side," says Consalo.

He says the evidence is linked to the murder of Dominique Dawson.

Detectives say they got a tip with a little math.

"Take that information, the weight of the firearm and get the estimated distance that particular object could have been thrown from the bridge."

Assistant Fire Chief Brian Burkeen is leading the team of five divers.

"We're doing a systematic approach. We're searching the bottom of the intracoastal waterway in a grid formation," says Burkeen.

Consalo says this evidence is key.

"We try to validate it so that its useful information in the prosecution of the case," says Consalo.

Detectives are also trying to locate the person who threw the firearm over the bridge. They are asking anyone with information to come forward.