3 arrested in deadly attack involving rival motorcycle clubs

PORT ST. LUCIA, Fla. — Port St. Police. Lucie stated that three suspects are in custody after a weekend shoot involving rival motorcycle clubs that took the life of a biker early Sunday morning.

The victim has been identified as Dan Sanders, 53, of Port St. Lucia.

Police said the shooting happened around 1 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Southwest California Boulevard and Southwest Greenan Lane. Sanders suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the abdomen, police said.

The victim was airlifted to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Six casings were recovered from the shooting scene.

About an hour before the shooting, Port St. Deputy Police Chief Lucie, Leo Niemczyk, said Sanders was involved in an argument with another person at The Office Sports Pub along US Highway 1.

Niemczyk said the three suspects, who at the time were at City Limits Sports Bar located on Southwest Gatlin Boulevard, were called by an associate to come to The Office Sports Pub.

After being at the Office Sports Pub for about 15 minutes, the suspects later chased the victim in a blue Nissan Sentra traveling at speeds of 100 mph, according to Niemczyk.

Watch below: Police name suspects in fatal shooting of motorcyclist

Police: 3 arrested in deadly attack involving rival motorcycle clubs

Police have identified the suspects as:

• Victor Omar Alvarez, 23, of Port St. Lucie faces a charge of first-degree murder. Alvarez is accused of shooting Sanders from the front passenger seat of the Nissan Sentra while Sanders was on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Southwest California Boulevard.
• Kyle James Driscoll, 25, of Jensen Beach faces a charge of first-degree murder. Police said Driscoll was the driver of the Nissan that chased Sanders.
• Nevaeh Rae Gonsalves, 21, of Port St. Lucie, faces a life felony accessory charge after police said their investigation determined she was a backseat passenger in the Nissan vehicle and provided misleading information to detectives during the investigation and attempted to have a forged bar receipt to establish an alibi.

Niemczyk said the three suspects and their Nissan were found and taken into custody by detectives at a home located in the 2200 block of Southeast Glover Street several hours after the shooting.
Police said Sanders was a known member of the Rough Riders Motorcycle Club and known to associate with Pagan’s Motorcycle Club. Alvarez and Driscoll are known associates of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, according to detectives.

“Florida has been overwhelmingly in Outlaws Motorcycle Club territory for many years, and it’s been very peaceful by all accounts,” Niemczyk said. “But more recently we’ve seen an influx of heathens in the area trying to take over criminal territory, and there have been some instances where the two have clashed.”

Surveillance video from the sports bar and the shooting helped detectives identify the three suspects and their vehicle, according to Niemczyk.

The cause of the fight is still under investigation.

When asked if he had seen a crime of this nature happen before, Niemczyk replied, “Not like this, not here.”

The three suspects are being held at the St. Louis County Jail. Lucie without bail.

Last year, a fatal shooting involving rival biker clubs took place outside Harpers Pub in Port St. Lucia. That shooting claimed the life of a 39-year-old man from Port St. Lucia.

Neighbor says suspect was ‘a good kid’

Toni Ann Meyers, who lives next door to Alvarez, said she was shocked by the arrest.

“If you asked me in a million years, I would have said ‘no, he’s a good kid,’” Meyers said. “He’s quiet. He’s been very respectable whenever I’ve interacted with him.”