Manatee deputies still searching for 'armed and dangerous' 20-year-old man after fatal shooting of Bradenton man
MANATEE -- The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is still searching for one of four men who they think drove up to an East Bradenton home and called to Kevin McCants, 27, before killing him, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies are searching for Robert Eugene Brewer, 20, to question about the shooting death.
"We have a warrant for him and we are still looking for him," said Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Randy Warren. Warren said deputies are hoping to charge Brewer with second-degree murder.
About 11:45 a.m. Saturday, witnesses told detectives up to four men in a black Toyota Camry pulled up to the 1000 block of 33rd Avenue East in Bradenton and shot McCants, according to Col. Rick Wells.
"He went up to the vehicle," Wells said from the scene Saturday. "We know that two shots were fired from the vehicle and, as a result, the subject died here at the scene."
Just before 5 p.m., the sheriff's office said they were pursuing a warrant to charge Brewer with second-degree murder.
"We're working leads," Warren said Monday afternoon. "All we really know is there was a history of some kind of an argument between our victim and Brewer, our suspect on the shooting. We don't really have a clear motive other than they had a dispute as recent as last week."
According to homicide detective Jeff Bliss, Brewer had been identified as the shooter by several witnesses.
"Brewer should be considered armed and dangerous," Bliss said. "If anyone believes they see him, they should call 911."
Brewer is a convicted felon. In December 2013, he was released from prison after serving about five and half months of a more than 18 month-long sentence for robbery.
Brewer was released Oct. 16 from the Manatee County jail where he had been held for more than nine months. Charges against Brewer of aggravated battery with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon were dropped, setting him free.
McCants was a convicted felon after serving two prison sentences for sale, manufacturing or delivery of cocaine and kidnapping with intent to commit a felony. His arrest history also includes charges of attempted murder, possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, armed kidnapping, aggravated battery with a firearm, home invasion robbery, possession of a controlled substance, possession of crack cocaine and violation of probation.
Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to call Ben Main, lead homicide detective on the case, at 941-747-3011, ext. 2161.
Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.
Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.
This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 10:57 PM with the headline "Manatee deputies still searching for 'armed and dangerous' 20-year-old man after fatal shooting of Bradenton man ."