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West Melbourne, FL — On Sunday, November 18, just before midnight, an alleged shooting incident at the Avasa Hammock Landings Apartments, located at 145 Sagecrest Circle, led to the arrest of 21-year-old James Tafari Crooks. The West Melbourne Police Department responded to a report of a confrontation involving Crooks, his girlfriend, and another individual.
According to the police report, Crooks arrived at the apartment complex, where an argument escalated into violence. Witnesses stated that Crooks began chasing the victim through the apartment complex, ultimately discharging a 9mm handgun in the victim’s direction. A spent shell casing was recovered at the scene, corroborating witness accounts.
The victim, visibly shaken, sought help by banging on the door of a neighboring apartment before running toward a gate separating the complex from nearby apartments. During this time, the victim reported hearing a female scream followed by the gunshot. The confrontation left the victim fearing for their life.
Crooks fled the scene before police arrived but was apprehended shortly after near Palm Bay Road during a felony traffic stop. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic firearm with a round in the chamber. The weapon, described as a Palmetto Dagger 9mm, was found in a blue backpack inside the vehicle. The ammunition recovered matched the spent casing found at the crime scene.
Crooks was taken into custody and transported to the Brevard County Jail after being medically cleared. He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is being held without bond.
The West Melbourne Police Department confirmed the arrest in a press release, stating, “The suspect chased the victim through the complex, firing a 9mm handgun in the victim’s direction. The firearm was recovered during the arrest, and the suspect was transported to Brevard County Jail, where he remains without bond.”
Authorities have not released further details, and the investigation is ongoing. This incident highlights the importance of community vigilance and timely reporting of suspicious activity.