RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — A 14-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder following a shooting that resulted in the death of a man in Riviera Beach last month. He was taken into custody Monday night and subsequently made his first court appearance Tuesday morning, where he remains held without bail.
The incident occurred on May 19 around 10 p.m. The Riviera Beach Police Department was alerted to the sound of gunfire via its ShotSpotter technology, which detected two initial shots in the 300 block of RJ Hendley Avenue, followed by four more in the vicinity of 1400 West 30th Street. Officers responding to the scene discovered a crashed Nissan Altima that contained Noelsaint Gulesaint, 32, who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead.
According to investigators, a witness reported seeing a short-statured youth armed with a handgun approach Gulesaint’s vehicle. The witness recalled the boy saying, “Man, you almost hit me with your car,” prior to an altercation that resulted in the boy gaining control of the firearm and shooting the victim from inside the car. After being shot, Gulesaint’s car rolled down the street before coming to a stop.
Furthermore, the witness reported observing the suspect fire additional shots into the vehicle while Gulesaint lay on the ground. Shortly after the shooting, the suspect fled the scene on foot. In the days following the incident, police reviewed video footage that showed the 14-year-old riding a bicycle linked to the crime, which had ultimately been discovered near the shooting site.
Authorities noted that there had been several reports of the boy missing, which led them to actively search for him. On May 25, a police officer spotted a boy matching the suspect’s description and initiated contact. When apprehended, the teen was found to be in possession of a loaded Black Taurus semi-automatic handgun.
During an interrogation, the boy detailed a confrontation he claimed to have had with Gulesaint, suggesting he felt threatened when a red vehicle allegedly approached him recklessly. He stated that he shot at the driver in self-defense after fearing for his life. The teen further disclosed that, after hearing of Gulesaint’s death, he disposed of clothes worn during the incident, including a hooded sweatshirt.
Now facing serious charges, including first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a minor, the young boy’s case raises concerns about youth violence and access to firearms. Community leaders are calling for urgent dialogue around gun safety and the impact of such incidents on local neighborhoods. The situation emphasizes the need for intervention to prevent further tragedies involving youth and firearms.