The 38-year-old victim of an attempted murder and robbery during an apparent attempted drug deal Sunday night was identified by police Tuesday as Keith A. Hall.
James Louis LaForteza, 29, and 14-year-old Kobi Anderson were arrested early Monday morning after robbing Hall of $40 and beating him into unconsciousness after he reportedly tried to buy drugs from them, a police report states. Hall remains on life support in a local hospital.
The incident happened at the Rightway convenience store in the 1800 block of Palm Beach Road, a report states. Hall, who was released from the state Department of Corrections the day of the robbery, allegedly approached Anderson and LaForteza in the convenience store parking lot.
He asked if they had any drugs to sell, and they asked him to "show the money." Hall showed $40 and they attacked him and took the money.
Witnesses helped police identify LaForteza, of the 1200 block of Palm Beach Road, and Anderson, of the 900 block of Southeast 13th Street.
"The witnesses said it was pretty horrific," Sgt. Martin Jacobson, police spokesman, said Monday. "Witnesses said they showed no mercy."
Detectives found Hall's mother in Sarasota and told her of his condition. Hall reportedly had been incarcerated for a year.
Police reported that in previous arrests, the teen had given his name as "Kobe Anderson" and his age as 15.
Jacobson said witnesses immediately were able to identify the suspects to police.
Both suspects have prior records in Martin County. Anderson was out of jail on bond and waiting to be tried for a December 2008 robbery and battery.
LaForteza has a number of misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana under 20 grams, driving without permit, and violation of probation. The charges reach back to 2002.
