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Two men shot, 1 dead in Vero Beach

Posted at 5:01 PM, Jan 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-21 23:30:29-05

UPDATED STORY

One man is dead - another in critical condition - after shots ring out in a Vero Beach neighborhood Thursday afternoon.

Family members tell us Alex Maldonado and his brother Efrain Maldonado were coming home from work, when they were gunned down in their driveway on the 1500 block of Highland Avenue.

Joel Miranda is in disbelief after learning his brother-in-law is gone.

"My nephew called me crying. He said come to the house, to my sister's house," he says.

Police say witnesses tell them Alex and his brother Efrain were pulling into their driveway just after 3:30, coming home from work, when they were shot.

Family members tell us the two worked doing lawn maintenance at a local country club.

Investigators say two men driving a a dark pick up truck drove up and opened fire on the siblings.

Luis Nunez lives across the street from the Maldonados.

"I heard 'pop pop pop' like 6 times, like he emptied a magazine. "I see only the car when it took off," he says.

Nunez says he saw his bleeding neighbors from across the street and tried to help.

"What I did is pump his chest…to keep him alive."

Both brothers rushed to Lawnwood Medical Center - where Alex died.

"I tried to save his life," he says. "I tried the best I can, but I guess it's not enough."

Tonight, neighbors shocked that that level of violence would hit so close to home.

"It just shouldn't have happened," says resident Mary McMillan. "Why people can't get along I don't know. There's ways other than shooting that you can deal with each other."

Police tonight are looking for a 2 men seen fleeing the area driving a dark green or black pick-up truck, potentially with a silver toolbox in the back.

Anyone with any information can call police or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS (8477) .

You can choose to remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward of up to $1000.00.
 

 

EARLIER STORY

Two men were shot and one was killed in Vero Beach Thursday afternoon, according to police.

It happened in the 1500 block of Highland Avenue just after 3:30 p.m. The location is a couple of streets away from Vero Beach High School.

The gunshot victims were initially transported to Indian River Medical Center and then to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center where police say one of them died.

The other victim is in critical condition.

Police are looking for two men in a vehicle described as a dark green or black Chevy or Dodge Ram pickup with an extended cab and possibly with a silver toolbox in back.

If you have any information you are urged to call Vero Beach Police at (772) 978-4600.