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UPDATE:  Arrests Made in Fatal Shooting in Fountain
11/13/08 - 10:32 PM
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Enocha Van Lierop - bio

Bay County, Fla:

One person is dead after a shooting in Fountain Thursday night.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office say it happened behind Sylvia’s Grocery on Highway 231.  Sylvia’s owner Vish Patel was killed in the incident.  Authorities say the shooting was motived by robbery.

Sheriff Frank McKeithen says Vish Patel, who owned the Sylvia’s, was walking to the store from his house located behind the gas station when he was approached by Nicholas Lee.

The two had a confrontation and that’s when Lee shot Patel.

Officials say the motive behind the shooting is robbery.  Lee now faces an open count of murder and armed robbery with a firearm.

Two others have been arrested in connection to the incident.  More arrests are pending.

The following was released by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office:

Six Arrested in Connection to Homicide At Popular Grocery Store in Fountain

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced the arrest of six individuals in connection to an attempted robbery and homicide at Sylvia’s Grocery at 18441 Hwy. 231 in Fountain.

Last night, November 13, 2008, the owner of Sylvia’s Grocery, Vishnukumar “Vish” Patel was found shot behind the store. BCSO deputies and investigators responded. Patel was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the incident began as an attempted robbery in which Mr. Patel struggled, and as a result, was shot and killed.

Security video at the grocery store captured the image of a subject wearing a hooded sweatshirt coming out of the darkness, headed behind the store, and then reappearing, running away. The man captured on camera matched the description of a subject that witnesses at the store at the time of the murder described to investigators.

Information developed during the investigation led investigators to Nicholas Tyrone Lee of Altha, Florida. Lee was also a suspect in a recent burglary in Calhoun County in which several firearms had been stolen. Contact was made with Calhoun County Sheriff David Tatum who assisted in the investigation. At about 2:30 am BCSO and CCSO investigators went to a residence on Hwy 274 in Calhoun County and found Lee and Amy Beth Cucco. Statements gathered during the investigation revealed that Cucco and Lee had stated prior to the murder that they intended to rob Patel. Upon questioning, Lee and Cucco admitted to their involvement in the murder. They also revealed that Joshua Robert Sourbeck, also of Altha, had driven them to Sylvia’s Grocery where they had attempted to rob Patel, and then shot him after he struggled.

The firearm used to kill Patel was confirmed to be one of several stolen in Calhoun County in a recent burglary. Lee and Cucco did not have the firearm used to shoot Patel when authorities found them, but stated they been assisted by Sourbeck after the incident and driven by him to Paul Minton Wynn III of Fountain after the murder to ask him to purchase the gun. Wynn had declined but offered to take the gun to a Joseph Primus Gainer in Southport to exchange it for marijuana.

Gainer traded about $250 dollars worth of marijuana in exchange for the gun used to kill Patel. Gainer is a registered Felon and Sex Offender and currently on DOC supervision. BCSO investigators went to Gainer’s home and found him and Sarah Lynn Hill at the residence. A search warrant was obtained and Gainer’s home was searched and the firearm and Marijuana was found.

All six have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Vish Patel:

Nicholas Tyrone Lee, DOB 8/23/89, of PO Box 244, Altha, Florida, on charges of Open Count of Murder, Armed Robbery with a Firearm, and Possession of Marijuana more than 20 grams.

Amy Beth Cucco, DOB 6/1/84, of 23845, NW Shelton Blvd, Altha, Florida, on charges of Principle to Armed Robbery with a Firearm and an Open Count of Murder.

Joshua Robert Sourbeck, DOB 8/29/88, of 4656 NW Hwy 274, Altha, Florida, on charges of Accessory After the Fact to Armed Robbery with a Firearm and Accessory After the Fact to Murder.

Paul Minton Wynn, III, DOB 12/1/77, of PO Box 563, Fountain, Florida, on charges of Dealing in Stolen Property and Principle to Sale of Marijuana.

Joseph Primus Gainer, DOB 9/19/81, of 2203 McCormick Road, Southport, Florida. He is charged with Dealing in Stolen Property, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Distribute, Sale of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Violation of Probation.

Sarah Lynn Hill, DOB 3/26/88, of 2203 McCormick Road, Southport, Florida, on charges of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

“ I feel this is just one example of the excellent investigative work done every day at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, “ Sheriff McKeithen said. “ Any time there is an arrest within hours of a homicide of the individuals responsible not only for the murder, but also of those who assisted, and those that helped dispose of the firearm, there is cause to say this is a job well done.”

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Prepared by R. Sasser
Information by Sheriff F. McKeithen

This entry has been viewed 6106 times.

User Comments

I used to deliver propane here. I always looked forward to this weekly stop. Just now found out about this. Am shocked.. Could not find a more loving person...’A TRUE AMERICAN’… God Bless his family… I will miss you… I pray the people involved get everything they have comming!!!

Posted by  on  11/15  at  07:01 PM

I agree with Brandy2177. Why were these punks still allowed to be out roaming our streets. If the CCSO would have done their job in the first place these criminals would not have been on our streets. A senseless act of violence that could have been avoided has taken the life of a great loving man.

Posted by  on  11/15  at  10:49 AM

Vishnukumar.

I’m sorry this has happened.  You were such a genuine person, your ātman showed whenever we saw you.
I will miss you Vish

‘humen bahut afsos hai, humari samvednaye aapke saath hain’

Posted by  on  11/14  at  07:46 PM

Vish will be missed dearly. He was a great guy, always nice and helpful in the community. It is sad that he was killed by some punks from Calhoun Co. that should have already been put behind bars.
His family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Posted by  on  11/14  at  02:31 PM

What upsets me the most is how such a kind, generous man was so selfishly taken. He always had a smile on his face and kind words to say. My entire family, my three children included, will miss him dearly. I do pray that these ruthless animals pay for what they have done.

Posted by  on  11/14  at  02:30 PM

we need jerry brown ,,i have lived in fountain all my life and never has there been so many shotings.just in 1 year here where i live the man shot his mom and dad , and about a week or so the girl killed her new born baby and now this shotting, so why does it take emergency personal so long to respond to calls such as these ones when we have a substation here on 231,there are always cop cars there and at the 231 truck stop plaza but yet it takes from 30 to 45 mins for anyone out here to get here ,its like this part of bay county everyone forgets abouts but we are tax payers to just like everyone else.this little town was a safe place to live and raise kids in but now it guns, drugs,my kids go to school and little pre-k kids take drugs to school and no one does anything about it , it has happened 2 times this year so far.and something needs done and fast for these kids thank you

Posted by  on  11/13  at  11:42 PM
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