INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — Two men have been found shot to death in a neighborhood in Indian River County on Monday afternoon, deputies said.
Indian River County Sheriff's Office deputies said the bodies were found near 79th Street and 105th Court in the Vero Lake Estates neighborhood. Money was found scattered around the scene, which Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said could mean the shooting was drug-related.
"Generally, when we see these kinds of things, where we see money and see people coming from out of town, oftentimes it is," Flowers said. "But I can't say that yet. It's too early in the investigation to make that assumption."
Detectives said the shooting appeared to be a double homicide that occurred at about 3 p.m.
Flowers said a resident heard a noise, went outside and discovered the body of a man in a nearby yard. Deputies then found the second body across the street.
Resident Julio Cruz told WPTV reporter Jon Shainman that from his kitchen he heard some rapid sounds.
"I thought it was construction people building houses out here," he said.
There was a focus on a vehicle nearby, which officials said appears to have damage from bullets.
"The vehicle does not belong to this neighborhood nor does it belong to this county," Flowers said. "We've been in touch with our counterparts in another county where the vehicle does belong and they are assisting with us, assisting us with the investigation."
Amanda and Paul Benson, who live near the crime scene, said the neighborhood is generally quiet. Amanda said she walked past the house with her baby in the morning before the shooting occurred and she's scared to walk near the house again.
"It's pretty uneasy feeling knowing that we walked past that house and then something traumatic happened there," she told WPTV reporter Ethan Stein.
Flowers said law enforcement usually deals with minor car burglaries or illegal four-wheeler activity in this neighborhood. But, he also said a drug house has occasionally popped up since the neighborhood is close to Interstate 95.
"We have over the years had drug houses pop up in this area from time to time," Flowers said. "But, it's [neighborhood] not known for that type of thing."
