MELBOURNE, Fla. – Melbourne detectives have made an arrest following the death of a man who police found shot early Sunday, according to the police department.
Stephan Dieujuste, 24, faces a charge of manslaughter, the Melbourne Police Department said in a news release. He was being held on no bond at the time of this report, records show, and is expected to make his first appearance on Monday.
Officers responded around 1:51 a.m. to the area of Vernon Place and East New Haven Avenue in reference to a report of gunshots, the release states.
[Watch video below to see why shooting prompts new security concerns in downtown Melbourne]
Once there, police said they located an unresponsive subject with an apparent gunshot wound, according to the release.
The subject — identified as 19-year-old Nathaniel Bernard Jennings of Palm Bay — died despite the best efforts of officers and Melbourne Fire Rescue to provide him with medical attention, police said.
According to an arrest report, Dieujuste had been in the downtown Melbourne area with his cousin when a confrontation between him and Jennings occurred. Dieujuste made several spontaneous statements, including, “I’m sorry, I had to do it. He ran up on me. I’m sorry, I’m sorry for this,” the report states.
Before the confrontation, Dieujuste went to retrieve his gun from a nearby parking lot after being denied entry into the Debauchery bar on New Haven Avenue due to it being 30 minutes of closing time. Dieujuste allegedly said, “(if) I can’t get into the club and I’m just outside, I have to have my gun on me,” the arrest report states.
Dieujuste said a man he recognized walked over to him and greeted him. The man — later identified as Jennings — was described by Dieujuste as “aggressive,” claiming he had threatened him and attempted to engage with him physically, the arrest report states.
Dieujuste claimed Jennings was trying to get him to go into a back alley for a potential confrontation. As Dieujuste walked away into a parking lot, he claimed another unknown subject put him in a “bear hug,” pinning his arms down. As Dieujuste pushed the subject off of him, he put his hand in his on the firearm in his pocket and said “I’m ready to give you a couple,” the arrest report states.
Dieujuste recounted that Jennings was in a fighting stance, prompting him to draw his firearm and shoot, police said. Dieujuste claimed he fired several rounds as Jennings turned to flee, the arrest report states.
As police investigated, they said they followed a blood trail leading from the location of the victim to a parking lot entrance. There, they encountered Dieujuste, who was placed in temporary custody, according to the report.
Officers discovered a Glock 19 handgun with a green laser in front of Dieujuste’s vehicle, along with at least five shell casings nearby, according to the report.
See surveillance video of moments after the shooting below:
Surveillance footage from the area reportedly confirmed Dieujuste’s presence before and after the shooting, police said. The footage showed him walking away from the scene with the firearm in hand, according to the report.
An official from Eastern Florida State College told News 6 that Dieujuste was a former student athlete at the college during the 2021-22 basketball season.
“He was with us in a limited role for the one season and did not return after,” the official said.
At Dieujuste’s first appearance in court Monday, his bond was set at $100,000 and he was ordered to have no contact with witnesses, among other conditions. His arraignment is set for June 5, the judge said.
Jennings was a football player for the University of Northwestern – St. Paul, which provided the following statement on Monday:
“Nate was a treasured member of our football team, being honored with all-conference accolades following his first year of collegiate competition. For as talented as Nate was on the football field, he was an even better person off of it. His contagious energy and positivity will be missed. We are praying for Nate’s mother Autumn, brother Isaiah, and other members of his extended family during this difficult time.”
Matt Moore, Head Football Coach at University of Northwestern – St. Paul.
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