PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Police in Port St. Lucie said three suspects are in custody after a weekend shooting involving rival biker clubs that claimed the life of a motorcyclist early Sunday morning.
The victim was identified as Dan Sanders, 53, of Port St. Lucie.
Police said the shooting took place Sunday at about 1 a.m. at the intersection of Southwest California Boulevard and Southwest Greenan Lane. Sanders suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his abdomen, police said.
The victim was airlifted to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Six shell casings were recovered from the shooting scene.
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About an hour before the shooting, Port St. Lucie Assistant Police Chief Leo Niemczyk said that Sanders was involved in a fight with another individual at The Office Sports Pub along U.S. Highway 1.
Niemczyk said the three suspects, who at the time were at City Limits Sports Bar located on Southwest Gatlin Boulevard, were called by an associate to come to The Office Sports Pub.
After being at The Office Sports Pub for about 15 minutes, the suspects later chased down the victim in a blue Nissan Sentra traveling at speeds of 100 mph, according to Niemczyk.
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Police identified the suspects as:
- Victor Omar Alvarez, 23, of Port St. Lucie faces one count of first-degree murder. Alvarez is accused of shooting Sanders from the front passenger's seat of the Nissan Sentra as Sanders was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Southwest California Boulevard.
- Kyle James Driscoll, 25, of Jensen Beach faces one count of first-degree murder. Police said Driscoll was the driver of the Nissan that pursued Sanders.
- Nevaeh Rae Gonsalves, 21, of Port St. Lucie faces one count of accessory after the fact - life felony after police said their investigation determined she was a backseat passenger in the Nissan and provided misleading information to detectives during the investigation and attempted to have a bar receipt forged to establish an alibi.
Niemczyk said the three suspects and their Nissan were located and taken into custody by detectives at a home located in the 2200 block of Southeast Glover Street a few hours after the shooting.
Police said Sanders was a known member of the Rough Riders Motorcycle Club and known to associate with the Pagan's Motorcycle Club. Alvarez and Driscoll are known associates with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, according to detectives.
"Florida has been overwhelmingly in the Outlaws Motorcycle Club territory for many years, and it's been very peaceful for all intents and purposes," Niemczyk said. "But more recently we've seen an influx of Pagans in the area and trying to take over the criminal territory, and there have been some situations where the two have clashed."
Surveillance video from the sports bar and the shooting helped detectives identify the three suspects and their vehicle, according to Niemczyk.
The cause of the fight is still under investigation.
When he was asked if he had seen a crime of this nature occur before, Niemczyk responded, "not like this, not here."
The three suspects are being held at the St. Lucie County jail without bond.
Last year, a fatal shooting involving rival biker clubs took place outside of Harpers Pub in Port St. Lucie. That shooting claimed the life of a 39-year-old Port St. Lucie man.
Neighbor says suspect was 'good kid'
Toni Ann Meyers, who lives next door to Alvarez, said she was shocked by the arrest.
"If you asked me in a million years, I would've been like, 'no, he's a good kid," Meyers said. "He's quiet. He's been very respectable the times I have interacted with him."
