MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – The Bradenton Police Department and Manatee County Homicide Task Force are investigating a homicide in the 700 block of 11th Avenue E., Bradenton.
Officers were dispatched to a shooting in the area shortly before 3:30 a.m. and found a 31-year-old man with two gunshot wounds. EMS transported the man to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Detectives interviewed 35-year-old Bruce Brooks regarding the shooting Sunday.
According to Brooks, and multiple witnesses on the scene, shortly before 3:30 a.m., the 31-year-old victim was involved in a domestic argument outside his home, which escalated into the victim yelling at neighbors.
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The victim then armed himself with a machete, entered a neighboring yard, and approached Brooks, sleeping in the home’s carport.
Brooks woke up, saw the victim coming with the machete, and shot the victim with a handgun in self-defense. Brooks, who has a prior felony conviction, left the scene but later contacted the Homicide Task Force.
“Brooks has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. We are not releasing the victim’s name due to Marsy’s Law protection,” said Bradenton Police Department.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information on this case can contact Detective Jeff Beckley at jeff.beckley@bradentonpd.com or Detective Todd Freed at todd.freed@bradentonpd.com. You can also call BPD at 941-932-9300.
To remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000, call Crime Stoppers (toll-free) at 1-866-634-8477 (TIPS) or send an anonymous E-Tip through manateecrimestoppers.com.
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