Bernard Jones, aged 26, tragically lost his life on April 27, 2019, in West Palm Beach, Florida. The incident occurred at the Lake Mangonia Apartments on North Australian Avenue, where Jones and two other men were shot. The city's gunfire detection system, ShotSpotter, alerted officers to the scene, where they found Jones and another victim, Alan Bernard Newman, 41, with life-threatening injuries. Both men succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
A third victim, Rashad Brown, was critically injured but survived after undergoing surgery.
The investigation revealed that at least three armed suspects exited a black vehicle and opened fire on the victims. Witnesses reported seeing a black Jetta speeding away from the scene, which led officers on a pursuit. The suspects abandoned the vehicle in Riviera Beach, and during a foot chase, one suspect, Varnard Elfino Albury, was apprehended. Evidence collected during the pursuit, including a pillowcase containing a cellphone, a black stocking-style mask, and a .40 caliber Glock 23 handgun, linked Albury to the crime.
Albury was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Jones and Newman, as well as attempted murder for the shooting of Brown. He also faced charges for illegally possessing firearms and fleeing from police. In January 2025, Albury pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and other related charges. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. His co-defendant, Antwuan Nelson, was also convicted of first-degree murder and received a life sentence. The case highlighted the violent nature of the crime and the swift response by law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice.
