Shooting suspect formally charged

Law enforcement has officially charged Darren David Cheatham with the Tuesday shooting death of 22-year-old Kristopher Edward Brown in the Washington Heights area.

Cheatham, 19, is charged with second-degree murder where the murder was not premeditated, shooting into an occupied vehicle, possession of a firearm or ammo by a convicted felon and discharging a firearm in public.

The shooting happened at 4:23 p.m. Tuesday in front of the Washington Heights Grocery Store. Brown was sitting in the passenger seat of a Ford Expedition when Cheatham reportedly walked up to the passenger side and shot him several times with a handgun, according to the arrest report.

K9 units were brought in to search for the suspect shortly after the shooting, while investigators taped off the area in front of the store and collected evidence.

Cheatham turned himself in to Sebring Police investigators Thursday morning. He was arrested initially on outstanding warrants before being charged with the shooting.

He remained in the Highlands County Jail Friday under no bond.

Beyond the arrest, there is no other information available about the case at this time, according to SPD Investigator Michael Hirsch.

"We've been unable to determine a motive at this time," he said Friday.

Information from the Highlands County Sheriff's Office's Web site states that Brown had several past arrests on drug charges. The most recent was April 29, 2008 on charges of possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.