On April 9, 2023, Keith Johnson Jr., a 39-year-old resident of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was found dead with apparent gunshot wounds in the roadway on Southeast Greendon Avenue behind Harpers Pub. The incident occurred early Sunday morning, with police receiving a call at 2:02 a.m. regarding a shooting in the 1700 block of Southeast Port St. Lucie Boulevard.
The shooting is believed to have resulted from a dispute between rival motorcycle gangs.
Johnson was likely a member of the Outlaw motorcycle club, as indicated by the shirt he was wearing affiliated with the group. The accused shooter, Elijah Inchauteguiz, 25, of Port St. Lucie, is a member of the rival Unwanted Nomads motorcycle club.
According to the arrest affidavit, Johnson entered Harpers Pub early Sunday morning. Shortly after, three men believed to be members of the Pagans motorcycle gang walked in. Johnson had a "bad feeling" and believed he was being stalked. Surveillance footage showed Johnson leaving the pub at 1:58 a.m., followed by Inchauteguiz. A witness reported hearing three "pops" and saw Inchauteguiz pointing a smoking gun at Johnson before fleeing on his motorcycle.
Inchauteguiz was pursued by police into Martin County after refusing to stop. He was eventually taken into custody on Southwest Citrus Boulevard. At the time of his arrest, Inchauteguiz had gunshot residue on his hands and was carrying a six-shot speed loader containing over 350 rounds. Johnson had been shot five times.
Inchauteguiz faces charges of murder and fleeing and eluding. The investigation is ongoing, with police considering the involvement of other suspected Pagan gang members who followed Johnson outside the bar. Despite the incident, authorities have assured the public that it was an isolated event and there is no broader danger to the community.
The shooting has been described as a targeted act rather than a random act of violence, and it has shocked the local community, particularly patrons and workers at Harpers Pub, who had never experienced such violence before. The Port St. Lucie police have a special investigations division dedicated to tracking biker gang activity and are continuing to investigate the case to determine any additional involvement and to bring any other perpetrators to justice.
