MELBOURNE, Fla. — A 19-year-old Palm Bay man has been identified as the victim in a fatal shooting that occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in Melbourne. Police say Nathaniel Bernard Jennings was discovered unresponsive with a gunshot wound near Vernon Place and East New Haven Avenue at approximately 1:51 a.m. Despite life-saving efforts from officers and Melbourne Fire Rescue, Jennings was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following a swift investigation by the Melbourne Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, detectives identified a suspect and established probable cause to arrest 24-year-old Stephan Dieujuste in connection with the shooting. He was taken into custody without incident and formally charged with manslaughter. Dieujuste has since been remanded to the Brevard County Jail Complex.
According to the initial press release, a person of interest had been identified early in the investigation, and authorities believed there was no ongoing threat to the general public. The police later confirmed Dieujuste’s arrest in a follow-up release issued the same day, including his booking photo and date of birth.
The Melbourne Police Department is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Carlson at (321) 608-6479 or call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
