He ordered the shooting of a Bradenton man, cops say. The gunman remains at large

A 19-year-old Palmetto man ordered the shooting of another man last month in Bradenton, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Anthony Castro was arrested Wednesday. Facing a charges of aggravated battery and of being an accessory to a crime, he is being held without bond at the Manatee County jail .

The shooter remains at large as the sheriff’s office continues to investigate.

Deputies say the shooting occurred just before 9 p.m. Dec. 27 at the Mira Lagos apartments, in the 400 block of 34th Avenue Drive East.

According to the arrest report, the victim had an argument with another person and as he was leaving, was confronted by Castro. The two began to scuffle at which time Castro could be heard saying, “Shoot him in the legs,” according to the report.

The victim saw a red laser beam flashing on his legs, so he pushed Castro away from him and ran, deputies say. Two gunshots could be heard while the victim ran, the report states.

Deputies say Castro and the unknown shooter pursued and continued to point guns at the victim, but no further shots were fired.

The victim removed his shoe when law enforcement arrived and deputies observed a bloody sock. Upon further inspection, a bullet was tangled up within the sock, the report states.

Castro was located at his mother’s home in Palmetto on Wednesday and taken into custody.