Second man charged with murder in deadly shootout in Bradenton
MANATEE -- One of the residents involved in Wednesday's deadly shootout in Pride Park is now facing a murder charge, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies responded Wednesday to the 1000 block of 61st Avenue Drive East to reports of a shooting. Kenye Cooper Sr., 26, was found dead in an SUV three houses away from where the shooting occurred.
Napolean Hale, 37, one of two residents reportedly involved in the shooting, was arrested that night and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was released from the Manatee County jail Thursday, after posting $7,500 bond.
On Friday, Hale was rearrested and charged with murder, according to the sheriff's office.
No other details regarding his rearrest were immediately available.
"He is still being interviewed," sheriff's office spokesman Randy Warren said.
Cooper's accomplice, Fredrick Dinel Smith, 24, got away Wednesday night, according to the sheriff's office. He was caught in Sarasota on Thursday morning after detectives got a warrant for his arrest. He is charged with second-degree murder.
He is being held without bond at the Sarasota County jail. Smith will be transferred to the Manatee County jail to face his charge.
Hale and another resident were playing video games when Cooper and Smith arrived at the home in a while Ford Expedition, the report says.
Cooper and Smith entered the house through the unlocked front door and confronted those in the home, according to an arrest report. Cooper held a man, woman and child in the back as Smith confronted Hale.
"Fredrick produced a firearm, pointed it at Napolean and demanded his money," sheriff's office homicide detective Dan Dickerman wrote. "Napolean then gave Fredrick the $50 out of his pocket and Fredrick continued to demand more from Napoleon."
Smith then dropped his gun and Hale seized the opportunity to force Smith out the front door, the report states. The men continued to fight outside and as Hale "began to win the fight," Cooper left the back of the house to muscle his way in.
"Kenye stood in the doorway of the house and produced his revolver, pointing it at Napolean," Dickerman wrote in the report.
The other male resident seized the opportunity in an effort to protect Hale and picked up the gun Smith had dropped, and shot Cooper from behind with it.
Smith ran from the scene as Cooper got into a car sitting in front of the house, the report states. The car -- later discovered to be associated with Hale -- sped off towards a dead end and its occupants abandoned the car.
Hale then took a rifle that belonged to the other man involved and went down to the dead end to check the car.
"Napoleon found Kenye in the back seat and fired a single round into vehicle," Dickerman wrote.
Everyone involved then ran from the scene. After deputies responded, Hale was found a block away and the other man was found waiting at the end of the road.
Cooper was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and one to his head, the report states.
Both residents admitted to the shooting, but Hale said the shot into the car was accidental, Dickerman reported.
The gun used to kill Cooper was handed over to investigators.
Hale also admitted that he knew the rifle was in the house even though he is a convicted felon. His most recent conviction was in 2004 for aggravated fleeing to elude law enforcement.
His criminal history includes arrests on charges of contempt of court, violation of probation, battery on a law enforcement officer, burglary with assault, resisting arrest and unarmed burglary of a structure.
Smith and Hale have a history that included a violent altercation a month before the shooting, Dickerman noted in the report.
Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.
This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Second man charged with murder in deadly shootout in Bradenton ."