Riviera Beach Bloodbath: Cops Closing on Suspects

Posted by Jose Lambiet , September 3, 2012 Print

Riviera Beach Police are closing in on a first suspect in Saturday night’s Sweet 16 dance shooting that killed two teenage boys and injured six people.

Several sources familiar with the investigation say police have identified the owners of the two guns used at Newcomb Hall at the busy municipal marina.

“Only two guns were used,” said one source, “and nine bullets were fired. But the venue was so crowded that the bullets hit a lot of people.”

One estimate is that there were at least 250 people in the aging dance hall.

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The sources, who asked to remain anonymous as the investigation continues, said a group of Haitian residents from West Palm Beach bumped into another group and had an argument shortly before the shooting started.

“It’s a matter of two people stepping back 30 feet and shooting at one another,” one of the sources told Gossip Extra.

Children from as many as five area high schools were at the dance.

Newcomb Hall is across the street from the always busy Tiki Waterfront Sea Grill. The grill usually bursts at the seams on Saturday nights with tourist and local residents. Most weekend nights, at least two off-duty cops watch over the grill.

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