Palmetto High School student,16, shot to death in Bradenton

BRADENTON -- A 16-year-old boy was shot to death early Monday, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

At 12:27 a.m. Monday, police responded to calls of shots fired in the 1200 block of 21st Street East.

When officers arrived at the scene they found the victim, Justin Fabien, of Bradenton, with gunshot wounds to his upper body lying on the sidewalk, police said. They performed CPR until emergency medical services and Bradenton Fire Rescue arrived for emergency care.

Fabien was declared dead at the site at 12:51 a.m.

No witnesses have come forward in the shooting and the Manatee County Homicide Unit is investigating.

Lt. James Racky, spokesman for the Bradenton Police Department, said Fabien had a juvenile record of arrests for burglary, trespassing and resisting arrest.

He was a student at Palmetto High School going into his junior year, according to Mike Barber, spokesman for the Manatee County School District.

Martin Huerta, a 46-year-old man who lives nearby, said he was sleeping when he and his wife heard three gunshots.

"My wife said, 'Those are shots,' and at first I thought 'No,'" Huerta said. "But I came out after checking on my kids and police were out here performing CPR on him."

It is the third homicide in the city of Bradenton in 2015.

Fabien's Facebook page includes posts such as:

"Court this morning good vibes only," posted at 8:46 a.m. last Wednesday.

"Probation aint right for me," posted at 11:08 a.m. Wednesday.

"Sometimes i Sit back & look at yall new "Squads" "Gangs" & smoke N laugh cause I swear I used to have one of Those took me a couple Months Too realize Who really was for me Now its just down to 2 ppl Me & Jaylen like Biggs & Wayne..." posted at 1:54 a.m. Friday.

"Can get Ugly Anytime of the Day A bullet dont got No names on it," posted at about 2 p.m. Sunday.

Racky said Fabien did not live near where he was found on a sidewalk, and that they have not concluded what he was doing at that location at the time of his death.

The 1200 block of 21st Street East is a residential area, and Racky said they do not believe there were any surveillance cameras nearby to catch the incident.

Anyone with information can call Bradenton Police Department Detective James Curulla at 941-747-3011 ext. 2224. Or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000, call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-634-8477 or online at www.manateecrimestoppers.com.

Kate Irby, Herald online/political reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7055. You can follow her on Twitter @KateIrby

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Palmetto High School student,16, shot to death in Bradenton."