Bradenton New Year’s shooting ‘justified’ after kidnapping attempt, sheriff says

Detectives say the 36-year-old man who died in a New Year’s Day shooting was shot in self-defense following an attempted abduction, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Nicholas Palomo, a convicted felon who had faced previous charges of “kidnapping and other violent crimes,” was found dead with gunshot wounds in the driveway of a residence in the 13800 block of 18th Place East at around 12:27 a.m. on Jan. 1, according to a news release from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

During an investigation, detectives discovered that minutes before the shooting, Palomo attempted to abduct the shooter’s wife while she was walking her dog, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies say the woman ran from Palomo’s vehicle and returned to her home, where she told her husband of the altercation. The husband then confronted Palomo, “who was behaving in a threatening manner,” according to the news release.

Palomo “advanced towards” the husband, and the man fired a single shot at Palomo in self-defense, according to the sheriff’s office release. Palomo was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bradenton self-defense shooting ‘justified,’ investigators say

“Based on the information gathered during the investigation, the (State Attorney’s Office) determined that the homeowner acted in self-defense and that his actions were justified,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a news release.

As part of the investigation, deputies say they learned that Palomo caused a disturbance at a Circle K convenience store near the residence, and “seemed to be under the influence of drugs,” the sheriff’s office said.

Palomo’s autopsy confirmed the cause of his death was a single gunshot wound to the chest, and a toxicology test has been requested, according to the sheriff’s office.