Detectives say teenager suspect shot 17-year-old victim 5 times in car before dumping body

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – A 17-year-old boy from Lantana was shot dead in his car by another teenager while shopping for drugs before his body was dumped on a waterfront near Loxahatchee, according to an affidavit obtained Wednesday by WPTV. .

Emmanuel Castaneda’s body was discovered December 21 near 75th Lane North and 120th Avenue North, four days after the teenager’s mother reported him missing.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, prior to Castaneda’s disappearance, he spoke to someone on Instagram private messages about a meeting to collect 4 pounds of marijuana.

“The examination established that he had been shot several times and rolled down a steep embankment,” the sworn letter says. “Before he was rolled down the embankment, evidence at the scene showed that the victim was initially dragged. Emmanuel Castaneda’s car, mobile device, shoes and keys are missing.”

A later autopsy revealed that Castaneda had been shot five times.

Cell phone data showed that Castaneda called the same number multiple times on the day of his disappearance.

Detectives traced the number to 17-year-old Hardy Strug from Greenacres, who was arrested in connection with the death of Castaneda.

According to the affidavit, Stragh’s mobile phone data shows that the suspect was in the area where Castaneda’s body was found for almost 14 hours.

Detectives also learned that numbers linked to Castaneda and Strug had a “frequent connection” in December, leading to Castaneda’s death.

Bob Leek / WPTV

As the detectives continued to track Stragh’s whereabouts on his phone, the location data led them to Castaneda’s Toyota Camry, which was parked outside an apartment building in the Vista Lago Apartments complex on Jog Road.

“Detectives noticed something that looked like blood visible on a backpack lying on the rear seats, black slides on the rear seats, on the side of the driver’s seat, and in the back of the driver’s seat,” the sworn letter says.

Forensics also recovered three .380 shell casings, indicating that the victim was shot while sitting in the driver’s seat.

With the help of phone records, CCTV footage and unnamed cooperating witnesses, detectives were able to link Strug to the crime, the affidavit says.

According to the affidavit, one of the cooperating witnesses claimed that Strug confessed to “setting up” the guy who almost robbed him.

Detectives said Strahg denied any involvement in the case after his arrest.

Straga was charged with murder, armed theft and shooting at an occupied vehicle. He judged like an adult.

The teen suspect refused to appear before a judge in court on Wednesday morning. The judge refused to contact Strag and ordered him not to make contact with Castaneda’s family.

Sara Malega, Castenada’s godmother, released the following statement to WPTV on Wednesday on behalf of the teen’s family: