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Highlands Today

Investigation Continues Into Lake Placid Shooting

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: November 5, 2008

LAKE PLACID - The Lake Placid Police Department is continuing its investigation into a Sunday night shooting at the JFK Trailer Park that left one man in serious condition.

Chief Phil Williams said Tuesday that investigators are still looking into leads, but nothing new has come out of their investigation.

One suspect, Kevin David Brown, 20, of 404 S. Main Ave., Lake Placid, was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder.

The victim, Abraham Catalan Hernandez, 22, of 418 S. Main St., Lake Placid, was shot with a 12-gauge shotgun and later air lifted to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. He was listed in serious condition on Tuesday.

Before being flown from the scene, Hernandez said he was shot by "el gavacho (white boy)," with a cross tattoo, according to the arrest report. Brown told police that he had fought with the victim, but denies any involvement in the shooting.

Brown's oldest sister, Danielle Novatka, said she believes her brother beat up Hernandez, but does not think he was the shooter.

Instead, Novatka thinks another person pulled the shotgun and that her brother was the "intended victim."

"There were more than just the two of them involved (Brown and Hernandez), and there were witnesses that can vouch for my baby brother, so I've been told," Novatka said Tuesday via e-mail.

Williams previously said backyard beer drinking may have taken place prior to the shooting.

Novatka added that even though Brown is her brother, she does want justice for the victim, "even if it does turn out to have been Kevin."

"We will play the waiting game," she said. "In the meantime I hope the public will not be too quick to judge."

The LPPD continues to investigate and anyone with additional information is asked to call Detective James Fansler at 863-699-3757.

Brad Dickerson can be reached at 863-386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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