Update: Bartow police say 21-year-old Vershontis Bradleydied from a gunshot wound Monday morning between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. Detectives are still searching for Larry Weston who is accusedof shooting her.Bartow, FL -- Bartow police say it all started when two men started fighting at the Azeala Gardens apartment complex in Bartow around 7:30 p.m. Friday night. Police say the two were involved in a fist fight.Sergeant David Wyant says 21-year-old Vershontis Bradley, a mother with a 2-year-old daughter,was watching the fight when she saw Larry Weston walk up to the two men and try to jump in.Bradley's youngerbrother, Arvell Bradley III, wasinvolved in the fight and Sergeant Wyant says Vershontis Bradleytold Weston to stay out of it.Sgt. Wyantsays that's when Weston pulled out a gun and shot Vershontis Bradley at close range in the chest. Friends who were there say there were children nearby at the time because the shooting happened near a playground.They also say Vershontis has undergone surgery for the gunshot wound. There's no word on her condition.Vershontis Bradley lives next door to the where the shooting took place at an apartment complex named Carver Village. Right after the shooting, police searched the complexlooking for Weston.Sgt. Wyant says they are continuing to look for Larry Weston, who has a long criminal past. Westonwas released fromprison back in May ona charge ofobstruction of a crime investigation. He has also been in and out of prison since 1999 for two counts of cocaine possession, sale of cocaine and marijuana and being a felon in possession of a gun.Bartow police say if you see him, call 911 immediatelybecause he is considered armed and dangerous.No word tonight on what sparked the fight andSgt. Wyant says they have not identified the other person involved in the disagreement.Meanwhile, the victim's friends say Vershontis was a standout basketball player at Bartow High School.She worked at the Zaxby's restaurant in Bartow since it opened about a year and a half ago. Co-workerssay they expected her to show up forwork Saturday morning.Saturday afternoon, many of the young restaurant workers wanted to know how she was doing.The restaurant is located right next door to the Bartow Police Department, where detectives are actively working on leads to find the suspect in the case. They say once he's caught he will face a second degree murder charge. />
Mother dies after trying to help brother involved in fight
A former Bartow High School basketball player and mother is shot at close range in the chest after police say she tried to talk someone out of getting involved in a fist fight.
