Alan Bernard Newman, aged 41, tragically lost his life on April 27, 2019, in a shooting incident at the Lake Mangonia Apartments in West Palm Beach, Florida. The incident, which also claimed the life of 26-year-old Bernard Jones and injured another man named Rashad Brown, occurred around 8 p.m. that evening. According to reports, multiple gunmen exited a black vehicle and opened fire on the victims, leaving a total of 65 bullet shell casings from three different weapons at the scene.
The city's gunfire detection system, ShotSpotter, alerted the police, who arrived to find the victims on the ground in the parking lot.
The investigation quickly led to the identification and arrest of two suspects. Varnard Elfino Albury, aged 30, was apprehended after a dramatic foot chase that ended in Riviera Beach. During the pursuit, Albury discarded a pillowcase containing a cellphone, a black stocking-style mask, a .40 caliber Glock 23 handgun, and sneakers. His driver's license was also found under the cell phone case. Albury was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Newman and Jones, as well as attempted murder for the shooting of Brown. He faced additional charges for illegally possessing firearms and fleeing from police.
The second suspect, Antwuan Nelson, was 18 years old at the time of the crime. Nelson's DNA was found on multiple items in the black Volkswagen Jetta used in the shooting, including a rifle that was one of the weapons fired. Nelson was convicted of first-degree murder for the deaths of Newman and Jones, and attempted first-degree murder for wounding Brown. In July 2024, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder charges and an additional 50 years for the attempted murder charge, with each sentence to be served concurrently.
The case against Albury concluded with him pleading guilty to charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. His sentencing was deferred to a later date. The tragic deaths of Alan Bernard Newman and Bernard Jones highlighted the violent crime issues in the area and led to a significant police investigation that ultimately brought the perpetrators to justice.
