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Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Greenacres Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Shooting Death Near Palm Beach International Airport
A judge has handed down a life sentence to a 42-year-old Greenacres man after he was found guilty in the October 2021 shooting death of a woman outside a bar near Palm Beach International Airport. The victim, Vanessa Nieves, was tragically killed in a vehicle in the parking lot of Foster’s Shak at Congress Avenue and Belvedere Road in suburban West Palm Beach.
Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss wasted no time in imposing the sentence on Gary Leconte following his trial on a charge of first-degree murder. Nieves, who was only 30 years old at the time of her death, was identified in court records. A family-placed obituary with All County Funeral Home in Lake Worth Beach confirmed her identity.
According to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigators, surveillance-camera footage captured the chilling moment when a man wearing a white mask, reminiscent of the character from the “Friday the 13th” movies, approached Nieves’ vehicle and fired a fatal shot.
Crime-scene investigators were able to match a fingerprint found on the door handle to Leconte. Additional surveillance footage placed both Leconte and Nieves at the bar on the evening of October 29, 2021. The video showed Leconte approaching Nieves and engaging in a conversation with her.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Witnesses reported that both individuals exited the bar and appeared to have a heated argument near Leconte’s vehicle. As Nieves walked away, Leconte drove towards her direction. Surveillance footage revealed Nieves ducking and running away as Leconte’s vehicle passed her. Nieves even called her relatives that evening to report that someone had shot at her.
Relatives of Nieves informed investigators that she had recently ended a volatile dating relationship and expressed fears that her ex, known only as “Tyson” to them, wanted to harm her. Text messages between Nieves and a person identified as Tyson led investigators to an address associated with Leconte.
After locating Leconte’s vehicle at a residence in Greenacres, law enforcement officers observed a mask similar to the one in the surveillance video hanging from his rearview mirror. Despite his denial of involvement in the shooting, Leconte was detained and subsequently found guilty in court.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violence. Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Vanessa Nieves during this difficult time.
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