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18-year-old shot & killed in Delray Beach ID'd

Posted at 9:53 PM, Mar 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-23 18:42:00-04

A suspect is being held without bond in connection with Tuesday's fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man.   

Three calls were made to the Delray Beach Police Department at 5:21 p.m. after the shooting took place in the 700 block of Southwest 9th St.

Detectives believe the suspected shooter, later identified as Jean Wesner Desty, 38, of Delray Beach, and the victim may have had previous issues with each other and may possibly have been in a physical altercation before the incident.

Witnesses said the two men were in separate vehicles when the shooter stepped out, approached the silver Cadillac Escalade in which the victim was a passenger and shot him through the window.

Detectives said the driver of the Escalade drove the wounded man to the hospital a short time later.  Court records show Herman Denis, 18, was pronounced dead at Delray Medical Center.  Friends say Denis was an outgoing man who loved to dance. 

Witnesses reported seeing a red Toyota Camry at the shooting. Officers headed to a Delray Beach home where they believed the vehicle may have been. While officers were at the house, the red Toyota arrived with a woman and a man inside. Officers say the man had blood on him and the pair were detained.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office booking log indicates that Desty was booked at 3:23 a.m. Wednesday and charged with murder.  

This is the third homicide in Delray Beach this year.