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Tallahassee Teen Killed in One of Three Weekend Shootings

Sam Branton Jr.
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TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - The Tallahassee Police Department is investigating a string of weekend shootings, including one that killed a 19 year-old. 

Early Sunday morning around 1:23a.m, Officers responded to reports of a man shot. Once Officers arrived they found 19 year-old Samuel Branton with several gunshot wounds. Branton was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

No word yet on what caused the shooting.

Jail records indicate that Branton was arrested in March for his involvement in vehicle burglaries.

At 2:21a.m on Sunday, Shots were fired in the parking lot of strip mall of the 2000 block Pensacola Street. When officers arrived they found evidence of gunshots being fired into the area including damage to the windows of Tijuana Flat, Bill's Bookstore, and several vehicles.

Police say the suspect later fled the scene before officers arrived however, Michael D. Smith was later found in the 1800 block of Miccosukee Road where police say he was involved in a domestic dispute.

Smith was arrested at that location on Miccosukee Road and now faces the following charges: Attempted Homicide, Discharge of a Firearm in Public, and three counts of Criminal Mischief for the incident at 2020 West Pensacola Street.

Additional charges include: resisting officer without arrest, felony battery and 2nd degree battery of one Tallahassee Police officer. Smith is currently being held at the Leon County jail without bond.

No injuries were reported at 2020 West Pensacola Street.

The third shooting took place around 2:58 a.m on Sunday. Tallahassee Police responded to a large party in the 100 block of Barbourville Drive near the campus of Florida A&M University.

According to Tallahassee Police, some sort of confrontation or fight broke out between two people at the party. During that fight, gunshots were fired.

The suspects took off in the victim's car before authorities arrived. No injuries were reported to officers after the shooting. The investigation is active and ongoing. 

Investigators are asking anyone with information on any of these incidents to call the Tallahassee Police Department at (850) 891-4200.