VERO BEACH — An 18-year-old Vero Beach man was arrested, accused of shooting another man twice with a BB gun while riding along Ocean Drive earlier this month.
The Vero Beach Police Department arrested Brian Kipp, of 642 9th Ave., on Aug. 20 for the incident, which occurred around 11:30 p.m. Aug. 14. The department released the details of the arrest on Aug. 25.
According to the police department, the victim was walking along the 3600 block of Ocean Drive when a vehicle pulled up beside him. The victim reported hearing some “pops” and was struck under his left eye and in his left armpit by what turned out to be BBs. The victim called for help once he was at his home and told authorities that the vehicle had been an older model, large white 4-door car, possibly a Mercury or Ford, according to the report.
Vero Beach Police Sgt. David Puscher saw a vehicle matching the description and made a stop. The occupants of the vehicle denied being involved in the drive-by shooting.
On Aug. 20, detectives spoke to the occupants again and got a different story.
The people in the vehicle told investigators that it was Kipp who was responsible for the shooting. They said he was sitting in the driver’s side rear seat and that he had pulled a BB gun from the waistband of his pants and shot the victim through the right rear window, according to the arrest report.
Authorities then went to Kipp’s home and arrested him. During an interview with the suspect, Kipp said that he had shot the victim and that he had destroyed the gun and dumped it at the garbage transfer station on Old Dixie Highway, the report states.
Kipp faces one felony charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He has been released from the county jail on $10,000 bond.
What Kipps’ motive was for shooting the victim was not included in the report.