The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office announced arrests made in two separate investigations, including a third arrest in the Twin Lakes shooting last November and an arrest in a Colson Avenue shooting earlier this month.
Trae B. Ward, 33, of Sarasota, was taken into custody on May 8 in connection to an altercation-turned-shooting in the 2500 block of Colson Avenue on May 1, according to a SCSO news release. Ward is charged with homicide: murder dangerous depraved without premeditation and was in custody at the Sarasota County jail, according to the release.
Sarasota County deputies responded to a dispatch call about a death at the beginning of the month, according to previous reporting. Paramedics provided life-saving aid and took the victim, Reginald Graves, to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead.
The Sheriff’s Office also announced the arrest of Jonathan Vivar, 18, of Bradenton, in connection with a November 2024 Twin Lakes Park shooting that killed a teenager. Vivar is charged with homicide: murder dangerous depraved without premeditation in the death of Eric Santana-Santana. Vivar is in custody at the Sarasota County jail.
Deputies previously arrested Carlos Romero-Tomas, 20, and a Bradenton teenager. Romero-Tomas is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm in public and giving false information concerning the commission of a crime, and the Bradenton teenager is charged with aggravated battery, discharging a firearm in public, carrying a concealed weapon and armed trespass.
Deputies responded to the park at 6700 Clark Road at 1:12 a.m., where an after-hours party was being held. A 17-year-old boy had died from shooting injuries, and Romero-Tomas was treated for his injuries, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County sheriff: Sarasota, Bradenton men arrested, tied to two fatal shootings
Reporting by Gabriela Szymanowska, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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