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Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Greenacres Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Shooting Death Near Palm Beach International Airport
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A 42-year-old Greenacres man has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty in the October 2021 shooting death of a woman outside a bar near Palm Beach International Airport. Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss imposed the sentence following Gary Leconte’s trial on a charge of first-degree murder. The victim, Vanessa Nieves, was only 30 years old at the time of her death.
Details of the Crime
The tragic incident occurred on the morning of October 30, 2021, in the parking lot of Foster’s Shak at Congress Avenue and Belvedere Road in suburban West Palm Beach. Surveillance-camera footage showed a man wearing a white mask, similar to the one worn by the main character in the “Friday the 13th” movies, approaching the victim’s vehicle. The man fired a fatal shot after a brief struggle with the victim.
Identification of the Perpetrator
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Crime-scene investigators were able to identify the perpetrator, Gary Leconte, through a fingerprint found on the door handle of the victim’s vehicle. Additional surveillance footage placed Leconte and Nieves at the bar on the evening of the incident. Witnesses reported seeing Leconte approach the victim and engage in a heated argument.
Relationship Between the Victim and the Shooter
Relatives of the victim revealed that Nieves had recently ended a volatile dating relationship with Leconte and had expressed fear that he wanted to harm her. Text messages between Nieves and a person identified as “Tyson” led investigators to an address associated with Leconte. Upon further investigation, authorities found a mask similar to the one worn by the shooter in the surveillance video in Leconte’s vehicle.
Denial of Involvement
Despite the evidence against him, Leconte denied any involvement in the shooting when questioned by law enforcement. However, the overwhelming evidence linking him to the crime led to his conviction and subsequent sentencing to life in prison.
Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
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