On May 5, 2023, a fatal shooting occurred outside a home in the 800 block of South H Street in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. The victim, identified as 54-year-old Leonardo Hernandez Mendez, was found deceased from gunshot wounds to the head and chest area. The Palm Beach County medical examiner later determined that he died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
The incident began when deputies were called to the scene at 11:24 p.m. following reports of a shooting.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene where a single gunshot was followed by a loud disturbance. One witness reported seeing a man wearing a black ski mask, armed with a gun, who approached and demanded money. When the witness refused to comply, the suspect engaged in a fight and fired a single shot that struck the victim.
The suspect was later identified as Jason Nozistene, a 22-year-old resident of Lake Worth Beach. Surveillance footage and witness accounts led detectives to a room at the Travel Inn motel, where Nozistene was registered. There, they recovered a semi-automatic pistol and Nozistene's identification card outside the room.
Nozistene was arrested and charged with several offenses, including first-degree murder with a firearm, attempted first-degree murder, attempted robbery with a firearm while masked, and delinquent in possession of a firearm. He was denied bail during his court appearance and was taken to the county jail.
The community of Lake Worth Beach was deeply affected by this tragedy, with Mayor Betty Resch emphasizing the importance of community vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement. The incident highlighted the need for neighbors to look out for each other and report suspicious activities to prevent such tragedies in the future.
