Port St. Lucie deadly shooting near bar believed to be motorcycle gang-related
https://www.wpbf.com/article/motorcycle-gang-shooting-port-st-lucie-florida/43554789#
Taylor Lang WBFB Chanel 25 ABC News West Palm Beach Florida April 10, 2023
Port St. Lucie police believe a deadly shooting behind Harpers Pub early Sunday morning is gang-related.
Officers located a 39-year-old man with gunshot wounds lying dead on the roadway on Southeast Greendon Avenue.
Investigators noticed a motorcycle fleeing the scene.
When officers attempted to stop the motorcycle, the motorist refused to stop, causing officers to pursue the motorist into Martin County.
The motorcyclist, 25-year-old Elijah Inchauteguiz, was apprehended and taken into custody on Southwest Citrus Boulevard.
On the night of the shooting, a person at the bar called and requested police presence at about 1 a.m., saying they had overheard someone in the bathroom discussing that “there was going to be some trouble because there is a pagan (gang member) present, and he shouldn’t be there,” according to the arrest affidavit.
When officers arrived, they stayed for a short time before leaving “but decided to stay nearby,” according to the report.
At 2:02 a.m., another person called 911 and reported hearing about 10 gunshots behind the bar. An officer heard the shots and went to the area, where several people were gathered and said a person was left on a motorcycle.
The victim was Keith Johnson, an “outlaw gang member,” who had been shot five times at close range and was lying dead in the road.
The officer pursued the motorcycle in a marked vehicle with lights and sirens when he observed a red motorcycle leaving the area of Southport Middle School. The officer dispatched that the pursuit was over 100 mph, and the officer gave orders over the car microphone.
Another officer joined the pursuit before Inchauteguiz’s motorcycle’s engine blew, and he was taken into custody. A six-shot speed loader, which is used to quickly reload a handgun, was found on his person with 357 rounds.
Because the suspect was near the middle school, a grounds search was done, and a bandana, cell phone and $10 were found, which police believe belonged to the suspect.
Detectives obtained surveillance from the bar that shows Johnson and Inchauteguiz in the bar. On multiple occasions, Johnson steps out of the bar, and Inchauteguiz can be seen watching and following him.
At 1:58 a.m., Johnson leaves the pub and walks toward his scar while Inchauteguiz takes cover behind another vehicle, according to the arrest report. Inchauteguiz can be seen on surveillance, reaching for his waistband and appearing to grab a firearm. Johnson tries to disengage as Inchauteguiz and two other men move toward him.
At this point, most of the men are out of the camera’s view, and then they run back into view and drive away in two trucks and three motorcycles.
During an interview, a witness who knew Johnson said that the victim told him that he was afraid something bad was going to happen to him.
Investigators were told that the Pagans Motorcycle Club and the Unwanted Nomads Motorcycle Club are both documented “one percenter” motorcycle gangs that operate in St. Lucie County. This means that they are outlaw motorcycle clubs compared to the other groups that are “law-abiding citizens,” the report stated.
Inchauteguiz is a documented member of the Unwanted Nomad’s Motorcycle Club. Based on the investigation, he is charged with murder and aggravated fleeing and eluding. He is being held in Martin County Jail.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to call Detectives at 772-871-5001 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS.
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