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Teen arrested in connection to Cape Coral drive-by shooting

Justus Pierce, 19, faces attempted murder charge
Posted at 11:04 PM, Apr 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-28 07:52:42-04

A 19 year-old has been arrested in connection to a drive-by shooting in Cape Coral.

According to Cape Police, the accused gunman Justus Pierce was in a dark blue GMC truck when allegedly began firing at the victim using an AK-47.

Authorities say the victim, who is also 19, crashed into several cars after fleeing his home while heading to the Cape Coral police department. 

The drive-by occurred along NE 15th place and Van Loon Terrace.

A resident who was too afraid to speak on camera told Four In Your Corner she tried to scare off the gunman.  "I shouted something like, stop it now or I'm calling the cops and I was - I don't know how to describe it more than upset."

A witness at a business along Del Prado Boulevard says someone in a dark colored van began shooting as it passed by two vehicles.

"The individuals involved in this and several shootings around the city have no value for life. They're doing what they feel they want to do and invoking their own, what they feel, is street justice on snitches," said Thomas Busatta, the victim's attorney. 

Busatta says his client believes the shooting was revenge because the victim's brother testified against one of Pierce's business partners.

"They're now retaliating against my client and have now ordered a hit on him for $700," said Busatta.

This isn't Pierce's first arrest for a violent crime. Last year, he was charged with attempted murder, but the charge was later dropped.

"The person was shot in the face," said Busatta. "That person refused to cooperate with the state attorney's office and subsequently the charges were dropped."

Busatta who has been in contact with detectives on the case said Pierce is believed to be part of an organized crime ring in the Cape that sells marijuana.

"They've shot up several vehicles, including accidentally shooting the wrong vehicle by having the wrong address," said Busatta.
 
He believes the group is a danger to the public.

"I never believed it would come to this in Cape Coral with so many drive-by shootings. Shooting occurring on Del Prado, Walmart, the Dollar Store on Cape Coral Parkway and it seems there's a syndicate of people that are creating this havoc in the city," said Bussatta.