On March 11, 2024, a double homicide occurred in Vero Lake Estates, Indian River County, Florida, resulting in the deaths of 19-year-old Logan James Thompson and 19-year-old Joseph Mitchel Cardella. The victims, both from Brevard County, were shot and killed during a transaction involving 1,300 THC vape pens valued at approximately $3,000.
The incident unfolded when the victims met with 17-year-old Jaime C. Mosqueda of Fellsmere to complete the transaction.
According to the investigation, Mosqueda started firing rounds, despite claiming the shooting was in self-defense. However, it was discovered that the victims were unarmed. Logan Thompson was found deceased on the road in front of the vehicle, while Joseph Cardella was found in a yard, having attempted to flee from the vehicle before succumbing to his injuries.
Jaime C. Mosqueda was arrested and charged with two felony murder counts. An unidentified 16-year-old witness, who initially came forward and cooperated with the investigation, was later arrested and charged with two counts of third-degree murder and two counts of accessory after the fact. The witness had provided crucial information, including the location of the gun, which was found by a K-9 unit within minutes. However, further investigation revealed that the witness may not have been entirely truthful about his involvement, as video footage showed him participating in a pre-shooting discussion and shaking hands with Mosqueda after the incident.
The investigation revealed that the shooting involved approximately 20 rounds of gunfire, which Sheriff Eric Flowers described as a "cold-blooded killing." The incident is still under investigation, but it is believed that Mosqueda was the only one who fired the rounds based on audio footage of the gunshots.
Logan James Thompson and Joseph Mitchel Cardella were best friends and had traveled to Indian River County for the transaction, marking their first visit to the area as indicated by cameras with license plate readers on I-95. The tragic event highlights the dangers associated with illegal transactions involving young individuals and the devastating consequences that can result from such actions.
