BOCA RATON, Fla. – A man who turned 19 years old on Wednesday was arrested by Boca Raton police in connection with the fatal shooting of another 19-year-old man at an apartment complex near Florida Atlantic University.
Donovan Malik Henry, faces charges of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm.
The shooting was reported at about 7:20 p.m. at the U-Park apartments at 135 NW 20th St.
Police arrived within three minutes and found Nicholas Max Acosta, of Boynton Beach, in his fourth-floor apartment, suffering from at least two gunshot wounds to his torso.
A woman called 911 and identified herself as the roommate of Acosta's girlfriend, who also lives in the building. She said she was in her room when she heard the gunshots and found Acosta lying on the floor of his kitchen. She said he was awake and breathing at the time.
Acosta's girlfriend also spoke briefly with the dispatcher.
"I need an ambulance right now, right now!" the woman screamed.
Acosta was taken to Delray Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said detectives spoke with Acosta's girlfriend who said she was with Acosta when there was a knock on the door. She said she saw two black males, one of whom she recognized from a party, and allowed them both inside.
But she said three other men forced their way into the apartment and ordered her and Acosta to the ground.
She said Acosta asked, "What's going on?" before one of the men shot him.
Detectives said Acosta's girlfriend claimed that he sold marijuana out of the apartment in the past and confirmed that a large bag of marijuana was missing from the kitchen counter after the shooting.
According to police, a text conversation on Acosta's cellphone shows that he was texting Henry regarding a narcotics transaction.
On Wednesday, a security guard checked the IDs of everyone driving into the apartment complex.
"Always thankful to be alive and it happened as close to next door. Really, it could've been anyone," FAU student Anthony Kanaris said.
Police said surveillance video shows the men leaving the scene in a black car and a red car at a high rate of speed.
"It is pretty scary that they were able to get away and there are still five of them out there. I just hope they find them and get justice for this kid," FAU student Kelsey Pittman said.
Students said they received an alert after the shooting and the complex was on lockdown for four hours as a SWAT team went door to door looking for the gunmen.
Kanaris told Local 10 News reporter Michael Seiden that he lives next door to Acosta. He described him as a regular college student who kept to himself.
"I just hope they find the guys," Kanaris said. "I don't feel like I'm in too much danger. I feel like it may have been more of targeted incident."
Detectives are still searching for four others involved in the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-458-TIPS.