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Suspect arrested in fatal shooting

A Fort Myers man accused of killing a 17-year-old boy is arrested in the Largo area. He'll be transported back to Lee County to face murder charges.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published February 4, 2006

LARGO - A man wanted in the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy in Lee County was arrested in the Largo area Thursday night, authorities said.

Pedro Mendez-Morales, 31, of Fort Myers was arrested about 6:30 p.m. while walking near Auburn Street and Crawford Avenue, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's Deputy Paul Martin spotted Mendez-Morales' silver Hyundai parked near Washington Avenue about 4:15 a.m. Thursday after the Lee County Sheriff's Office broadcast a description of the suspect and his vehicle, said sheriff's Sgt. Jim Bordner.

Martin called for backup, and Pinellas detectives began surveillance after notifying Lee County detectives.

Mendez-Morales, who was unarmed, was arrested without incident. Detectives said he was at his mother's home before the arrest.

"It was just good police work, paying attention to what's going on out there," Bordner said.

Investigators suspect that Mendez-Morales shot and killed Miguel Angel Cobos-Gonzalez, 17, who was having an affair with Mendez-Morales' estranged wife, said Deputy Angelo Vaughn, a spokesman for the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Mendez-Morales will be transported back to Lee County to face murder charges, he said.

Mendez-Morales had been arrested on a felony charge of false imprisonment on Oct. 1, according to Lee County records.

He posted bail and had a hearing on that charge scheduled for Feb. 27.

Times researcher Angie Holan contributed to this report. Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 4, 2006, 00:32:20]