19-year-old found dead in car in Brevard, deputies say

Deputies say victim was target of possible drug-related robbery

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 19-year-old man was found dead Saturday evening in a vehicle in Brevard County, according to sheriff’s officials.

The man was found around 7 p.m. in the area of San Sebastian Way at the Mission Bay apartments near Viera.

Deputies said a preliminary investigation has found that the victim was the target of an alleged drug-related robbery.

On Monday, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office dive team searched a pond near where the victim’s body was found.

The Sheriff’s Office did not release the name of the victim or his cause of death.

Emergency responders on the scene Saturday night reported the man had a gunshot wound to his neck.

Dispatchers identified the caller as the victim's father and said he reported his son was not breathing and had no pulse.

According to those who knew the victim, he was a Viera High School graduate.

Deja Thompson said she was the teen's girlfriend.

She watched the divers search for evidence Monday.

"They need to find out who did it because he wasn't the type of person that should have been hurt," Thompson said.

She called him "special" and said he had a promising future working as an electrician.

Two weeks ago, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced the creation of a new county-wide task force to stop youth violence the sheriff said is being influenced by drugs, gangs and guns.

"Our goal with the task force is get to these kids before they get to these situations that are taking their lives," Ivey said.

The sheriff said that since the announcement of the task force, teams are getting involved with different youth organizations and camps.

Anyone with any information on the death is asked to call 321-633-8413 or Crimeline at 800-423-8477.


About the Author:

James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. James is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State in 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.