Accused of shooting in to a car with his toddler inside, killing the new boyfriend of his ex- a Jacksonville man has now been arrested.
JSO Lieutenant Steve Gallaher says they were able to identify 33-year-old Anderson Nieves as the suspect shortly after the shooting on Beaver Street and Cahoon Road on the Westside last Saturday. Nieves apparently followed his ex, who was in the car with a toddler they shared as well as the ex’s new boyfriend and her adult brother.
“Stopped his car, started shooting multiple rounds at the passenger door of the car- striking Juan Carlos,” Gallaher says.
The boyfriend, Juan Carlos Lopez- who was in the passenger seat- was hit once in the chest. Gallaher says the ex tried to flee, and hit a car. Lopez was taken to the hospital, but later died.
Luckily, the toddler and others in the car were not hurt.
JSO had a good idea of the suspect from early on in the investigation
“She [the ex] and her brother were able to identify the suspect, and homicide detectives quickly obtained an arrest warrant for murder,” Gallaher says.
Nieves was caught in Pinellas County while trying to flee to family in South Florida. Jail records show he was booked in to the Duval County Jail around 4 PM. He has a total of four children with his ex, only one was in the car.
Gallaher says they’re unsure if Nieves accounted for the risk he put his child in while shooting at the car, or if there was any indication he was going to snap. He was unclear how long the suspect and his ex had been separated.
Nieves’ criminal history shows several names, although JSO says it’s the same offender. “Nelson Marrero” has several arrests for assault, burglary, violating probation, driving with a suspended license, petit theft, and more.
