RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — A 14-year-old boy is in custody after a man was gunned down in Riviera Beach May 19, police said.
In a written statement, Riviera Beach police said its ShotSpotter system detected multiple gunshots at two separate locations at about 10:09 p.m.
WATCH: WPTV Reporter Michael Hoffman speaks with nearby residents about the recent murder in Riviera Beach
Officers responded and located a red vehicle that had crashed into the yard of a residence on West 30th Street.
Nearby, officers discovered a man lying on the sidewalk, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Police said the victim was later identified as Noelsaint Gulesaint, 32, of Riviera Beach.
Police said their investigation identified a 14-year-old boy as the suspect in the shooting.
The teen was taken into custody Sunday and faces one count of first-degree murder and a charge of delinquent in possession of a firearm.
Police did not release the name of the suspect due to his age.
Searching for answers, WPTV reporter Michael Hoffman asked the department for more information. In a separate written statement, the department quickly responded saying their preliminary investigation found that the victim's vehicle was involved in a crash with the suspect, who was riding a bicycle in the 3000 block of Avenue R.
"This incident may provide a possible motive for the subsequent events," the police statement said.
The department added that following the crash, the boy fired shots at the victim's fleeing vehicle. The suspect then pursued the vehicle to the 1400 block of W 30th Street, where police said the teen fired multiple additional shots, killing Gulesaint.
"The City of Riviera Beach remains committed to addressing the ongoing issue of youth violence. We are working closely with community partners, law enforcement, and local organizations to implement proactive measures and provide resources aimed at prevention, intervention, and support for our young people. Public safety remains our top priority, and we urge anyone with information to come forward," the police department also told Hoffman.
