Man Wanted in Attempted Murder Turns Himself In

A man wanted in connection with a Aug. 13 shooting is behind bars after turning himself into Bradenton Police late Thursday night.

Police say Lens Toussaint, 22, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, possession of firearm by a felon and shooting into an occupied dwelling in conjunction with a shooting that took place Wednesday around 6 p.m. in the 1400 block of 17th Street Circle East. Toussaint denied all allegations, Capt. William Fowler wrote in a press release announcing the arrest.

The incident that led to the arrest began to unfold on Wednesday afternoon when Joseph McGruder Jr. yelled at Toussaint for loitering in the neighborhood and approaching a group of children, police said. The two men knew each other. After getting yelled at, police said Toussaint got into a car and left, but he returned later and “approached Mr. McGruder’s residence armed with a handgun,” the release said.

Police say McGruder was standing near his door when several shots were fired. One struck McGruder while the others hit the home. McGruder was taken to Blake Hospital for treatment.

Toussaint was booked into the Manatee County Jail.

Photo Credit: Lens Toussaint/Manatee County Sheriff’s Office