BRADENTON, Fla. — An alleged gang-related murder in Bradenton was left unsolved for nearly eight years. Now, Manatee County deputies say they've identified the man responsible.
The sheriff's office issued an arrest warrant for 39-year-old Pedro "Pedico" Garcia for the 2014 murder of 25-year-old Samuel Conde. Garcia, officials say, already is currently serving time in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for firearm convictions.
Detectives say Garcia faces a charge of second-degree murder following years of investigation and recent interviews.
Conde was killed in the early hours of Dec. 20, 2014, when a group of people was gathered at 3704 9th Street East. Deputies say this location was known as a place to illegally buy beer after area bars had closed for business.
According to the sheriff's office, a fight between rival gang members broke out, leading to Conde getting shot and killed.
Detectives say Conde was a known member of the SUR 13 gang and because the shooting involved a rival gang, witnesses "remained tight lipped."
The sheriff's office added that Conde's older brother Gabriel was also murdered in a gang-related shooting in 2018, though deputies do not believe the shootings are related.