Collier County Sheriff's Office deputies have charged a
17-year-old Immokalee resident in connection with a shooting Wednesday night
that left one teenager dead and another injured in CCSO's Golden Gate Estates
District.
Meliton Cruz Jr., 1412 Carson Road, is charged with
second-degree murder with a firearm and attempted second-degree murder with a
firearm. The shooting took place shortly after 10 p.m. on the 2300 block of
50th Avenue N.E.
Deputies say Cruz shot the victims as they were sitting
in their vehicle. Victim Marcos Aleman, 17, of Golden Gate Estates, died at the
scene. The surviving victim, Michael Stallone, 18, also of Golden Gate Estates,
was able to exit the vehicle and obtain help from nearby residents. Stallone
provided deputies with Cruz's name and a vehicle description.
A short time later deputies saw a vehicle matching the
description and conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Camp Keais
Road and Immokalee Road in CCSO's Immokalee District. Cruz was one of three
occupants in the vehicle. Through the investigation deputies identified him as
the person responsible for the shooting.
Stallone was transported to a hospital for treatment.
The investigation continues.
Cruz's arrest photo will be released when it becomes
available.
