Police identify man behind deadly shooting inside St. Augustine hotel

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — UPDATE | Friday, Oct. 1

Police have arrested a man behind a deadly shooting at the Voco hotel in historic St. Augustine Thursday night.

The St. Augustine Police Department announced Alexander Reece Johnson, 18, has been charged with negligent manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man.

In a report, a female witness told police she was inside the hotel room with her boyfriend, Nieem Nelson-Bailey, and two of his friends when Johnson began playing with a gun. The woman said Johnson pointed the gun at her boyfriend and the weapon fired.

The witness told detectives that both men ran from the hotel room after Nieem-Bailey was shot.

SAPD says Johnson was detained shortly after the shooting.

The other male subject turned himself into the police around 10:00 p.m. Action News Jax is working to find out what charges, if any, he will face.

UPDATE 10 p.m.: A person was shot and killed at a hotel in St. Augustine on Thursday evening, police said. There is one person of interest in police custody.

During a briefing, police confirmed the shooting happened inside the Voco St. Augustine hotel. A male victim, who has not been identified, is deceased.

The person of interest, Gabriel Debaun, turned himself in the same night. The relationship between the victim and Debaun is unknown at this time.

Police believe there is no threat to the community as they canvass the area.

Anyone with information on this incident should call 911 or the St. Augustine Police Department at 904-825-1070.

St. Augustine police are searching the area of 215 Anastasia Blvd. and warn people to avoid the area.

Police are looking for a white male in his 20s wearing a black shirt and blue saggy pants.

Anyone who has seen the suspect should call 911.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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