Fatal Shooting At Nightclub Under Investigation: Palmetto Police

PALMETTO, FL — A fatal shooting Sunday night at a Palmetto nightclub is under investigation, authorities said.

The shooting happened around 11 p.m. after “a disturbance broke out” outside The Hall, 1330 U.S. 301 N., in the rear parking lot, according to a Palmetto Police Department news release.

As officers responded to the disturbance, they heard a single gunshot.

When they made their way through the crowd, they found the victim, Fernando Garcia-Nunez, 18, of Palmetto lying on the ground with a gunshot wound, police said. He was rushed to Blake Medical Center, where he later died.

The shooting suspect, Jose Gomez, 21, of Palmetto, confronted a juvenile brother and sister in the parking lot and pointed a gun at them, investigators said. Garcia-Nunez intervened and was shot by Gomez.

He was arrested without incident and charged with one count of second-degree murder with a firearm. He was booked into the Manatee County Jail.

Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting is asked to contact Detective Richard Wilson at 941-721-2000 ext. 6301 or Manatee County Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS (8477) or manateecrimestoppers.com.