Teenager died in Palmetto from ‘homicidal violence,’ cops say

An 18-year-old man was found dead about 7:17 a.m. Saturday lying in the grass in the 1200 block of 61st St. East/Palm View Road in Palmetto.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said Jesus Molina died from “homicidal violence.”

At about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff’s office CS0 released Molina's name. No other information was released.

The crime scene was located across the street from a manufactured home community. A woman who did not want to be identified given the circumstances of a possible murder told the Bradenton Herald on Saturday that, “It’s very scary considering this is such a quiet, elderly community.”

Palm View Elementary School is only a few blocks away, and nearby the crime scene is a pond with a sign that reads, “Beware of alligators.”

Saturday’s investigation is the second homicide in the area in less than a year. In October, human remains were found in a nearby field on Halloween. The body of Jeremey Allen Joyner is said to have been in the field at least few months. He was identified in April of this year.

The woman who spoke to the Bradenton Herald had more questions than answers.

“It’s a sad state where the world is today,” she said. “My heart just breaks for that young man’s family and my prayers go out to them.”

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.

This story was originally published June 29, 2019 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Teenager died in Palmetto from ‘homicidal violence,’ cops say."