24-year-old man shot to death in Bradenton

MANATEE -- A 24-year-old man was found shot to death early Monday, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded to the 4300 block of Eighth Street Court East at 1:51 a.m. for reports of gunshots in the area, according to a release.

When they arrived, they found Nicolette H. Johnson lying in the driveway of his residence with gunshot wounds, deputies said. He was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Dave Bristow, spokesman for the sheriff's office, said he believes it was a targeted attack. Detectives have not named any suspects, and Bristow said they don't know what Johnson was doing in the driveway at that time.

A Facebook account for the victim showed he posted a status on March 15 that quotes a song by rapper Lil' Wayne, reading, "The key to survive is to KILL I got em playn (sic) DODGE BALL wit (sic) BULLETS...."

A post by Johnson on March 3 said he got a job. Jon Foden, the general manager at WingHouse in Bradenton, said Johnson started working for them as a cook about a month ago.

"He was very reliable, very upbeat, always happy," Foden said. "I was shocked to hear the news."

Johnson pleaded no contest to charges of possession of a firearm with an altered serial number and carrying a concealed firearm in 2010. He was found guilty of violating his probation in 2011.

He told the Bradenton police officer who arrested him in 2010 that he was carrying a revolver because "a family member had recently been shot."

Bristow said they are investigating if the shooting was drug related. Foden said he never saw any indication that Johnson was involved in drugs or other crime during his time at WingHouse.

This is the 12th reported homicide in Manatee County this year.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 11:41 PM with the headline "24-year-old man shot to death in Bradenton ."