‘He was 20 and full and life.’ Bradenton man’s death was a homicide, cops say

Almost 12 hours after 20-year-old Antonio Aguirre was found shot to death, family members and friends gathered around a blood-stained sidewalk in East Bradenton on Friday morning, praying through their tears.

“He was 20 and full of life,” his sister said. “He loved soccer, was funny and just a laid back, chilled person. He never started trouble with anyone, but he wasn’t afraid of anyone either.”

Aguirre was found dead around 10:20 p.m. Thursday in the 700 block of 25th Street East, according to the Bradenton Police Department, which is investigating the death along with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Investigative Unit.

According to family who did want to be identified by name amid the investigation, Aguirre was walking with other family members at the time of the shooting.

A witness told the Bradenton Herald that as a car passed by, someone fired two or three shots, hitting Aguirre before driving away.

Another witness, Hillary Borjas, didn’t see the shooting but heard the gunshots, “Which is normal around here so no one really pays attention to it because there’s never anything serious like this that comes from it. It’s not common to hear shots. It does happen but mostly I think people are just shooting into the air or something.”

Borjas realized this was different when she saw law enforcement begin to flood the area on Thursday night.

“I feel for the family of who got killed,” said another neighbor who also declined to be identified until the shooter is captured.

Borjas said she’s lived in the neighborhood for seven years and like her neighbors, said the neighborhood has some minor issues from time to time, but nothing like what happened Thursday night.

“It’s not like it’s dangerous around here,” she said. “You aren’t afraid to walk around or anything like that.”

Aguirre’s sister said her brother loved his family. They loved him, too, she said.

The family is working closely with law enforcement and believes they have an idea of what led up to the shooting, but those details have not been confirmed by investigators.

“I believe it was a set up,” his sister said. “They got him when he was least expecting it.”

Police said they will release more details at a later time.

Anyone with information can contact Detective Andres Perez at 941-932-9322 or BPDTIPS@BRADENTONPD.com. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477.

This story was originally published March 12, 2021 at 9:45 AM.