MELBOURNE, Fla. – A 30-year-old Palm Bay man was arrested after a deadly shooting near a Melbourne park, police say.
Andrew Guzman was named a person of interest in the case and was taken into custody Monday after he was found at a relative’s home in Palm Bay.
Around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Melbourne police responded to reports of gunfire at the entrance to Eddie Taylor Park along Monroe Street.
Large crowds gathered at the park had begun to run away in different directions, police said. While most there were in the park to watch youth football games, investigators believe many others were in the area following the funeral of Craig Dewberry, who the release states was murdered on Sept. 10 at the Tip Top Mini Market.
Two men had been shot at the park, police said. One of them, who was taken to the hospital in someone’s car, was in critical condition at last check, according to the release. The other, found in the parking lot and taken to the hospital in an ambulance, was pronounced dead upon arrival, the release states.
Police identified him as Devon Lakes, 31, of Palm Bay. The other victim has not been identified.
Initially, police were determining if a shooting on the 900 block of Camphor Way around 3:30 p.m. Saturday was connected to the double shooting at Eddie Taylor Park, but investigations determined they were not.
According to a news release, police say an unknown male exited a light-colored car before shooting at two people in the driveway of a home on Camphor Way. The vehicle left the area and one of the two people who were shot at — so far described only as a man — was hospitalized in critical condition.
Officers were still at the scene on Camphor Way when they responded to gunfire at Eddie Taylor Park.
On Tuesday, Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey issued a statement on Facebook following Guzman’s arrest.
Guzman was charged with first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm, attempted first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with information about either shooting is urged to call the police department at 321-608-6731, or Crimeline at 800-423-8477.
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