LISTEN TO 911 CALL: Cocoa Police Arrest Suspects in Fatal Shooting That Was Live Streamed on Facebook

By  //  September 2, 2020

Nitekka Lennear, 27, was shot multiple times Tuesday evening at 1080 N. Fiske Boulevard

COCOA POLICE: Two suspects are in custody in connection with the murder of a 27-year-old woman killed early Tuesday evening. Nitekka Lennear, 27, was shot to death as she was streaming live on Facebook. Leniquea Byrd and Aniyah Thomas each face a charge of second-degree murder.

COCOA POLICE: In the video, a female is shouting “Shoot her! Shoot her!” Multiple shots were heard and the victim is seen in the video falling to the ground

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Cocoa police detective have taken two suspects into custody in connection with the murder of a 27-year-old woman killed early Tuesday evening.

According to Yvonne Martinez, Cocoa Police Public Information Officer, Nitekka Lennear was shot to death as she was streaming live on Facebook, and Leniquea Byrd, 19, and Aniyah Thomas, 20, each face a charge of second-degree murder.

Byrd and Thomas were arrested late Tuesday evening following a series of witness interviews and a review of video evidence.

“At approximately 6 p.m. Tuesday, dispatchers began receiving multiple 911 calls (see the link below) reporting a shooting at 1080 N. Fiske Boulevard,” said Martinez.

“Police dispatchers received multiple 911 calls in which witnesses reported a shooting at 1080 N. Fiske Boulevard. When officers arrived, a female victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers attempted to render aid until medics arrived. The female was taken to the hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.”

The first officers to arrive on the scene found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds and immediately began to render aid. Lennear was later taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

LISTEN: 911 call for Nitekka Lennear shooting death. (Please note the 911 calls contain some explicit language.)


“The investigation revealed Lennear went to the apartments to confront her former girlfriend, Aniya Thomas, about a social media post,” said Martinez.

“Lennear was streaming live on Facebook as she drove to the location.”

Video of the incident shows Lennear exiting her vehicle and walking up to the “D” building where Lennear and her current girlfriend confront Thomas and another female, identified as Byrd.

“Byrd is currently intimately involved with Thomas,” said Martinez. “The confrontation escalated into a physical fight between the couples and ex-couples.”

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In the video, a female is shouting “Shoot her! Shoot her!” Multiple shots were heard and the victim is seen in the video falling to the ground.

“Detectives were able to secure interviews with key witnesses who made corroborating statements indicating Byrd was the shooter and Thomas was the person in the video shouting ‘shoot her’,” said Martinez.

The witness statements along with the video evidence and other physical evidence at the scene made the probable cause for an arrest for second-degree murder for each of the two suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Central Florida CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477). Callers will remain anonymous and can be eligible for cash rewards of up to $5,000 in this case.  You can also text info to dropadime@cocoapolice.com or use the See it, Say It, Send It app. All information will be kept anonymous.

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