FL Homeowner Fatally Shot Man On New Year’s Day In Self-Defense, Sheriff Says

BRADENTON, FL — A homeowner was justified in the New Year’s Day fatal shooting of a man who tried to abduct his wife while she walked her dog in their Bradenton neighborhood, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The shooting of Nicholas Palomo, 36, in the 3800 block of 18th Place East was an act of self-defense, Manatee Homicide Investigation Unit detectives said.

The state attorney’s office consulted with detectives multiple times and reviewed all case materials and evidence, determining that the homeowner’s actions were justified.

The homeowner was protecting himself and his wife after being confronted by Palomo, investigators said.

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Palomo tried to abduct the wife minutes before the shooting. She managed to escape by running away from his vehicle and returned safely to her home, where she alerted her husband.

The husband then went outside and confronted Palomo, who was “behaving in a threatening manner,” the sheriff’s office said.

As Palomo advanced toward him, the husband fired a single shot. Despite efforts to save him, he died at the scene.

Detectives also learned that before the shooting, Palomo caused a disturbance at a nearby Circle K convenience store and seemed to be under the influence of drugs, MCSO said.

An autopsy concluded that the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest, and toxicology testing has been requested to identify any substances present in Palomo’s system at the time of the incident.

Palomo was a convicted felon who had previously served time in prison for kidnapping and other violent crimes. There is no evidence that he knew the couple; it was a random incident.

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