“We are not prepared at this time to characterize or disclose Mr. Meriweather’s status in this case, though we do seek to interview him,’’ said Captain Angelo Nieves in a prepared statement.
A lawyer for the victims — Quentin Taylor, 24, and Nico Stanley, 23 — waged a Boston radio media blitz, asserting that the two told him Meriweather, 27, fired the bullets that wounded them. Taylor suffered serious facial injuries and initially was hospitalized in critical condition. Another bullet grazed Stanley’s head.
Both victims grew up in Apopka with Meriweather, and all three played for the high school football team.
“That’s who pulled the gun,’’ Florida attorney John Morgan told WEEI yesterday, quoting the victims as accusing Meriweather. “That’s who shot us.’’
A close relative of Meriweather who witnessed the incident said otherwise. The relative, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, said Meriweather was unarmed and acting as a peacemaker when a friend of Taylor opened fire, spraying bullets that narrowly missed Meriweather.
The witness said Meriweather had no reason to harm anyone, particularly because the two men trading punches — Taylor and Cedric Payne Jr. — are related to him.
“Brandon wasn’t taking sides in the fight because they’re both his cousins,’’ the relative said.
The controversy began at the Blue Jeans Lounge in Apopka, a popular neighborhood bar Meriweather has frequented. As a melee erupted around closing time, Stanley’s sister became in volved in a physical confrontation with Payne, the witness said.
After the melee, a number of patrons, including Meriweather, rode 2 miles to Payne’s residence in Apopka to continue the party. In the meantime, Nico Stanley went elsewhere to pick up Taylor, then rode to Payne’s house to confront him over the incident with Stanley’s sister, according to the witness.
The fight erupted on an otherwise quiet residential street shortly after 2 a.m.
“When Quentin came full force at Cedric, Brandon jumped in the middle to try to break up the fight,’’ their relative said. “Brandon had no influence on the fight and he didn’t have a gun on him.’’
