Sheriff’s office investigating homicide at Gates of Bradenton apartments
Detectives are investigating a fatal shooting of a man Saturday at the Gates of Bradenton apartment complex.
Just after 5 p.m. Saturday, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a possible shooting at the complex, located at 4515 26th St. W., Bradenton, and Jody Pierce, 41, was found dead inside an apartment.
Pierce’s death has since been ruled a homicide, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Dave Bristow.
“We have some leads we are working but do not have an identified suspect,” Bristow said. “We do not believe it is related to the Bradenton incident.”
About an hour earlier, Bradenton police responded to a report of a shooting in or near the Carlton Arms apartment complex and found two victims with gunshot wounds in a vehicle in the 3200 block of State Road 64 East.
Pierce was well known to local law enforcement, however, Bristow added. His arrest history includes charges of possession of marijuana, resisting arrest without violence, driving with a suspended license, uttering a counterfeit instrument, petit theft, trespassing, criminal mischief, fraudulent use of credit card and fraudulent use of someone else’s personal identification.
At the time of his death, Pierce was out on bond on two open criminal cases against him. In one case, Pierce was charged with petit theft and resisting or obstructing law enforcement. In the other case, he was charged with trespassing in an occupied structure and resisting arrest without violence.
Anyone with any information about the fatal shooting that killed Pierce can call the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011, ext. 2519. Anyone with any information about the shooting at Carlton Arms can call the Bradenton Police Department at 941-932-9300. Anonymous tips on either case can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477 (TIPS).
Jessica De Leon: 941-745-7049, @JDeLeon1012
This story was originally published January 7, 2018 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Sheriff’s office investigating homicide at Gates of Bradenton apartments."