A shooting in Florida on Wednesday afternoon ended with a 25-year-old man dead and a 28-year-old man charged with murder, according to reports.
The incident happened at approximately 1:45 p.m. Wednesday. It ended with 25-year-old Niyke Deangelo Echavarria shot and killed.
Arrest reports state that, shortly after arriving on the scene, Highlands County sheriff’s deputies had arrested 28-year-old Javionne Malike Floyd on a murder charge.
The two men – who lived within one block of each other, according to reports – got into a confrontation at the intersection of East Hal McRae Boulevard and South Verona Avenue in Avon Park.
When investigating deputies arrived, Highlands County Fire Rescue medics had already taken Echavarria to AdventHealth Sebring with several gunshot wounds.
He later succumbed to being shot six times in the upper portion of his body, as well as once in the leg.
Floyd had refused to speak with deputies, reports said, and already had invoked his right to an attorney.
However, witnesses told deputies that Floyd and Echavarria had an argument in the middle of the intersection. Allegedly, Echavarria had been inside “The Spot,” a restaurant on the corner, making threats to shoot Floyd if he found him.
As he walked out, he saw Floyd driving by, witnesses told deputies. He then, allegedly, jumped into his gray late-model Toyota Corolla and chased Floyd down, using his car to block Floyd at South Verona and Hal McRae.
The victim then got out of his car and walked toward Floyd’s, confronting him there, reports said.
Within a couple of minutes of them exchanging words, reports said, Floyd allegedly began shooting at Echavarria, hitting him several times.
Deputies obtained video surveillance evidence from several nearby locations, reports said, which confirmed that Echavarria used his car to block Floyd’s car at the intersection; that he got out of his car and confronted Floyd at Floyd’s driver’s-side door, and that it appeared the two were arguing, based on body language.
Video showed Floyd reportedly reaching into his vehicle on the driver’s side and pulling out an unidentified object. Within moments, he began firing.
Arrest reports state that, based on witness accounts and surveillance footage, Echavarria did not appear at any time to have or be holding a firearm or pose an imminent threat to Floyd.
Video recorded the victim trying to flee, reports said, and collapsing on the ground in front of his vehicle.
At that point, reports said, Floyd allegedly pursued Echavarria to the front of his vehicle and fired at him again, while he was lying on the ground.
After that, reports said, he walked back to his vehicle.
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