GIFFORD — Detectives suspect a man shot three times last week was targeted because of his relationship to a rapper recently released from Broward County Jail on charges in the YNW Melly double homicide case.
Indian River County deputies arrested Traveion Banks, 18, of the 3900 block of Kennedy Court, Wednesday shortly after noon on a warrant for attempted first-degree murder.
The arrest followed the shooting at Victory Park Apartments in Gifford last week where a 43-year-old man was shot three times in the back and flown to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce.
More:Man shot multiple times at Gifford apartment complex hospitalized in serious condition
The man is related to Cortlen Henry, 21, a rapper known professionally as YNW Bortlen, sheriff's officials said.
Henry's relation was shot just before 11 p.m. Sept. 14 at Victory Park Apartments, between 31st and 43rd avenues, according to a Indian River County Sheriff's Office case report.
In an arrest warrant, detectives stated they were able to talk with the man Monday after he was taken off a ventilator from surgery for bullet wounds, two of which struck his spine.
Detectives said residents reported hearing four gunshots while deputies later found "multiple shell casings" near the bed of the man's truck and one bullet hole passing through the driver's side of the 2020 Jeep.
Sheriff's Office officials said they received numerous anonymous tips identifying Banks as one shooter and that there was a second shooter.
After speaking with the man who was shot and another person who reportedly witnessed the shooting, detectives learned two men were involved as suspected shooters, and the motive was retaliation for the 2018 shootings in South Florida.
According to the warrant, detectives were told the men approached the man who was shot and another man from behind an apartment building at 3976 Lincoln Drive. The two had been talking near a truck.
The man who was shot told detectives he heard a click and turned to see the men with guns aimed at him. He said he ran, heard one shot and felt a second as it hit him in the back knocking him to the ground, where he tried to hide under his truck.
When deputies arrived they said they found the man lying face down on the ground and began to give him first aid and used dogs to search for the shooters, but did not find them.
The man who was shot told detectives he recognized the men from an exchange he said occurred roughly a month ago over Cortlen Henry, according to the report.
Banks was arrested by deputies without a struggle Wednesday in the 1800 block Old Dixie Highway, said Indian River County sheriff's Maj. Eric Flowers.
He said due to the ongoing investigation, no information about the man described as the second shooter was available.
Banks remains in Indian River County Jail on $250,000 bail and has an arraignment scheduled for Oct. 29.