Banana Factory Bar Shooting Leaves 1 Person Injured: Sheriff

BRADENTON, FL — An early Sunday morning shooting at the Banana Factory left one person critically injured, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Just before 2:30 a.m., deputies responded to reports of a disturbance at the restaurant and bar, which is located at 6916 14th Street in Bradenton.

As they cleared a crowd of people gathered in the parking lot, multiple gunshots were fired and a suspect ran from the scene by foot, heading west, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies chased the suspect, later identified as Brandon D. Baker, 30, and tackled him in the parking lot of a neighboring business. They also recovered the firearm used in the shooting, MCSO said.

Friends of the victim, a 30-year-old man whose name is being withheld under Marsy’s Law, drove him from the Banana Factory to a local hospital. He was shot multiple times and has been undergoing surgery for his injuries. His condition was critical as of Monday morning, the sheriff’s office said.

Before deputies could attend to the victim, friends drove the victim from the scene and later arrived at an area hospital. He was shot multiple times and has been undergoing surgery for his injuries. As of this hour, his condition is listed as critical.

Baker, a three-time convicted felon, was charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Detectives are working to determine the motive for the shooting, but don’t believe it was a random incident, the sheriff's office said.