Matthew Makarits, a 22-year-old male from Greenacres, FL, was tragically killed on April 27, 2017, in a double homicide at Bowman Park. The incident occurred in broad daylight, around 2 p.m., in a popular park frequented by children and teens. Matthew Makarits and his best friend, 21-year-old Marcus Stukes, were both shot multiple times near a blue car parked by the basketball courts.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) responded to the scene and confirmed that both men were pronounced dead on site.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was not a random act but a targeted attack. Surveillance footage from the park and eyewitness accounts indicated that the shots were fired from a car parked next to the victims. The community was left in shock and fear, as the brazen nature of the crime, occurring in a public space during the day, was particularly unsettling.
In the months following the murders, PBSO detectives worked diligently to identify and apprehend the suspects involved. On June 14, 2017, Scott Cinevert, a 24-year-old male from Wellington, FL, was arrested in connection with the double homicide. Cinevert was charged with first-degree murder, although investigators believe he did not personally pull the trigger. Instead, he was accused of planning the armed robbery that led to the fatal shootings.
The arrest of Cinevert provided some relief to the grieving families and the community, but the investigation continued as authorities sought to identify and apprehend any additional suspects involved in the crime. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence and the impact it has on communities, particularly when it occurs in places meant for recreation and safety.
Matthew Makarits, who had aspirations of joining the Army to help pay for college, was remembered by friends and family as a kind and ambitious young man. His untimely death, along with that of his friend Marcus Stukes, underscored the senselessness of the violence that claimed their lives.
