Police briefs: Homicide victims identified

MANATEE — The victims of a July 3 double homicide were identified Sunday night as Irwin Figuero, 19, and Rubin Gonzalez Garduno, 18, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Witnesses told detectives the two were walking west in the 1100 block of 59th Avenue Drive East when they were approached from behind by a person or people in a vehicle described as possibly a blue Mercury Grand Marquis, a sheriff’s report said. As it came alongside the two men, shots were fired and both men went down, it said.

At about 9 p.m. Friday, a citizen called 911 after she heard several gunshots. When deputies arrived, they found two men lying in the road, the report said. One died at the scene, and the other was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, it said.

Detectives continue to investigate what they believe was a gang-related crime, the report said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (941) 747-3011 or call Crime Stoppers, at 866-634-TIPS.

House window hit in shooting, police say

BRADENTON — In a shooting incident, someone knocked out a front bedroom window of a home in the 200 block of 60th Avenue West on Saturday, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Police reported there were people inside the residence at the time of the shooting, which was about 11:45 p.m., but no one was hurt.

Housekeeper Rosalba Betancourth Garcia said she was entering the house at the time of the incident, and thought she heard a vehicle drive by, but did not see anything, the report said.

Burglar smashes door, takes off with cash register

TERRA CEIA — Someone smashed out a glass front door Saturday with a large rock at the fruit business called the Citrus Place in the 7000 block of U.S. 19 North, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. The culprit stole the cash register, a report said.

Owner Frank Tillett estimated the value of the cash register and its contents at about $400, while there was about $200 worth of damage to the door glass, the report said.

The building was unoccupied at the time, which was estimated at 10 p.m., the report said.

— Sara Kennedy