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Highlands Today

Lake Placid Cops Look At New Suspect In Shooting

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: November 25, 2008

LAKE PLACID - Local authorities are focusing their investigation on a new suspect in the shooting of a Lake Placid man.

The original suspect, Kevin David Brown, 20, of 404 S. Main Ave., Lake Placid, was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder on Nov. 3.

Brown was eventually released from jail on his own recognizance pending further investigation, according to LPPD Detective James Fansler.

"We're no longer focusing in on Mr. Brown," he said Monday.

Fansler added that the victim, Abraham Catalan Hernandez, 22, of 418 S. Main St., Lake Placid, made a statement indicating his certainty that Brown was not the shooter. The detective said he will also ask the state attorney's office to drop the charges against Brown.

There is another person of interest in the case authorities are trying to locate, but Fansler did not wish to give the individual's name.

The investigation stems from a Nov. 2 incident, where officers responded to a shooting at the JFK Trailer Park.

Hernandez was shot with a 12-gauge shotgun and later airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers.

The victim's wife heard him moaning in pain on the front patio of the couple's home. He was found bleeding and holding his back.

Hernandez's original statement described Brown as the shooter, a statement which has changed in subsequent weeks.

In a recent e-mail to Highlands Today, Brown wanted to thank "everyone that supported me and believed in my innocence."

He also appreciated the "excellent detective work" Fansler did on the case.

"I would also like to say that the victim and his family are in both mine and my family's prayers that he makes a full recovery," Brown said.

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

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