INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Two more teens face charges in an attempted armed burglary gone wrong last month that left a third suspect with gunshot wounds, authorities said.
The teens are suspected of aiding 19-year-old Howard Bartee III in the February incident that ended with him being shot by a resident. One of the teens helped Bartee kick in the resident’s front door while the other teen acted as a look out, an arrest report states.
Deputies went to Reese’s home about 6 p.m. Feb. 1 in the 300 block of 14th Place Southwest in response to a burglary in progress. They spoke with Reese, and then with Bartee, who was lying in the roadway with gunshot wounds.
Bartee was taken to the hospital. He remained there for a couple of weeks and then was arrested after being released, deputies said.
The teenagers, both 16 and of Vero Beach, were arrested Feb. 28 on a warrant. They each face charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling and attempted murder with a weapon. It was not immediately known if the teens were booked into the county jail or placed in the juvenile detention center.
The arrests come two weeks after deputies charged Bartee with attempted murder and armed burglary for his involvement in the break-in. The resident, 25-year-old Taylor Reese, was not hurt and will not be charged.
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Video taken Feb. 1, 2018.
IRCSO Spokesman Eric Flowers talks about shooting in the 300 block of 14th Place SW
Posted by Nick Samuel on Thursday, February 1, 2018
Reese told deputies he woke up to the sound of his door being kicked in. Reese said he grabbed his firearm, went outside and saw Bartee crouched down on the side of his house.
The two exchanged gunfire, and Reese struck Bartee, deputies said. When Bartee limped toward a red car parked in the roadway and tried to get in the back driver’s seat, the car sped off and left him, an arrest report states.
Deputies spoke with one of the 16-year-old’s about the incident. He denied knowing Bartee or the other teenager arrested.
Deputies spoke with an acquaintance of the teen, whose vehicle matched the description of the car seen speeding from the scene, an arrest report states. He said he drove the two 16-year-old’s and Bartee to Reese’s home that night.
Bartee and one of the 16-year-old’s went up to Reese’s front door while the other teen acted as a lookout. The acquaintance said he didn’t know of the burglary scheme and thought he was “just giving them a ride,” an arrest report states.
He said he heard gunshots moments later and saw Bartee fall in front of his car. One of the teen suspects got back in the car before the acquaintance sped off.
Deputies determined Bartee and the two 16-year-old’s acted as a group to burglarize the home, authorities said. Deputies described Bartee as a documented “gang associate” and one of the teens as a “documented gang member.”
The trio possibly scoped the home the night before the attempted armed burglary, an arrest report states.
Bartee has a court arraignment at 8:30 a.m. March 14; The two teens each have court arraignments at 8:30 a.m. April 4.
