Treasure Coast Newspapers
PORT ST. LUCIE Police are investigating a gunfire incident at a weekend graduation party that left a man and a girl with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Police about 10 p.m. Sunday went to the 900 block of Southwest Longfellow Road after a report of a disturbance at a party.
A homeowner reported she was hosting a small graduation party that got too large. She was trying to get people to leave when she heard yelling and three apparent gunshots.
Witnesses told investigators there was a fight in the living room, and when that ended they heard shots outside.
DNA collected from evidence in her home matched that of Ailon-Mendoza, whose DNA was registered in a Florida Department of Law Enforcement database.
Deputies found Ailon-Mendoza near the woman s home while canvassing the area after she reported the incident. But he gave deputies a fake name, according to court records.
The Tuesday arrest is not his first in connection with a similar type offense.
Ailon-Mendoza pleaded no contest and was found guilty in December 2020 of exposure of sexual organs and two other misdemeanor crimes after an August 2019 arrest by Stuart police following an incident at Shepard Park. He was sentenced to 300 days in jail, records show.
Deputies reported some shots struck powerlines above them about 1:53 a.m., according to a report.
Brown, 33, said Thomas never got in a fistfight or “any drama with anyone.”
Brown said Thomas loved to smile, and spend time with his 5-year-old son.
She said she last saw him May 8 at a family reunion at Victor Hart Sr. Community Enhancement Complex in Indian River County.
“He brought his son and they played and he took pictures, just having a good time,” Brown said.
She said Thomas, who was between jobs, loved giving hugs, and when he did so he held you tight.