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19-year-old man shot dead at West Palm Beach apartment complex

Heavy police presence at Lake Mangonia apartments
One person was shot prompting a heavy police presence at the Lake Mangonia apartments along Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach.
Posted at 1:11 PM, Feb 21, 2024
and last updated 2024-02-22 00:37:50-05

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A teenager was found shot to death at a West Palm Beach apartment complex Wednesday.

The shooting took place just after 11 a.m. at the Lake Mangonia apartments located at 2100 N. Australian Avenue.

A 19-year-old man was found dead outside a first-floor apartment when officers arrived, according to West Palm Beach police spokesman Mike Jachles.

Later Wednesday, Jachles said the victim's name hasn't been released because they are waiting to notify the family. He said the man was from Palm Beach County but not the city.

It's unclear what prompted the shooting, but Jachles said they did not believe that it was a random attack and there wasn't a threat to the public.

Crime scene investigators and officers were in the parking lot, asking questions of everyone who was trying to enter and exit the buildings.

WPTV news crews spotted officers dressed in SWAT-style gear with rifled weapons entering the complex.

According to Principal Jeremiah Stewart at nearby Roosevelt Middle School, the campus was operating with limited movement due to the law enforcement activity off campus.

"All students are safe, and we are proceeding with a regularly scheduled day," Stewart said in a statement to parents.

Jachles said police were canvassing the area and speaking to possible witnesses.

Anyone who could help in the investigation was urged to contact Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

Police said an execution-style shooting took place at the same apartment complex the first week of January.

Residents told WPTV at the time of that shooting that they had concerns about their safety.

"I'm tired of this every time children be out here," a resident named Linda told WPTV on Wednesday. "You have to duck and hide to dodge bullets. ... I want to move because there's too much going on. There’s children out here you got old folks out here ... something needs to be stopped."

Lake Mangonia resident Miracle Hargrett agreed.

"I am ready to leave," Hargrett said. "I haven't even been here over six months, and this is the second shooting in less than six months since I've been here."