Man sentenced in 2023 deadly shooting that stemmed from drug deal

Original article appears here – Written by: Nick Samuel July 24 2025

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A Gifford man will spend nearly three decades in prison after deputies said he fatally shot a Brevard County teen during a drug deal turned armed robbery two years ago. The teenager was initially left paralyzed, then went comatose and died in August 2023.

Circuit Court Judge Robert Meadows found the shooter – Antonio Woods – guilty of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder with a weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary of an occupied conveyance with assault or battery while armed and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Meadows sentenced Woods to 27.5 years at the Florida Department of Corrections, according to Assistant State Attorney Bill Long, who prosecuted the case.

Meadows handed down the ruling on July 17 at the Indian River County Courthouse. Woods, 23, was represented by Assistant Regional Counsel Attorneys J. Renee Wilkins, Jerome A. Stone Jr. and Donald Chinquina.

Woods, who pled no contest to the charges, wore a red and white-striped jail uniform as he stood handcuffed before Judge Meadows. One of the more impactful moments in the well of the court came as two relatives of the teenager – Brandon Medeiros – read written statements to Woods.

“I’m sorry you didn’t believe you were worth more than the choices you made. I will not waste my energy hating you. There was an utter lack of respect for one another in this case,” Medeiros’ mother, Lindsay McCormick, told Woods as he looked back at her.

“(My son) was a friend to everyone. He was a brother who always had time for his brother and little sister. He was respectful and always said ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’”

McCormick cried, but remained calm as she spoke to Woods. The mother said she remembers seeing her son in the hospital bed, connected to tubes to help him breathe.

McCormick said droves of people from their church attended Mederios’ funeral. The mother said she will keep Mederios’ childhood artwork on her refrigerator as a memorial.

“You’ll be one more person that won’t forget him,” McCormick said to Woods.

Woods’ defense attorneys said he was very remorseful. Woods, who did not make a statement during the sentencing, was fingerprinted and had his mouth swabbed for DNA.

Through a photo lineup, Medeiros was able to identify Woods as the man who shot him during the botched drug buy, reports show. The 18-year-old later died at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.

Another Brevard County teen, 17, was treated at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital and released the same day.

What happened

The incident occurred June 27, 2023 at the Taylor Pointe Apartments complex located off 38th Circle in Gifford. Deputies learned that four people – all from Brevard County – were inside a dark blue Nissan Altima when two of them were struck by gunfire near the back of the complex.

Deputies went to the hospital and spoke with Medeiros, who said the shooting stemmed from an attempted marijuana deal, reports show.

Medeiros told deputies he never met Woods in person before. Woods, also known by the nickname “Tony,” and Medeiros messaged each other through Snapchat to set up the narcotics deal, reports show.

Phone records showed the pair agreed Medeiros would sell Woods a quarter pound of marijuana for $550, according to reports. Medeiros said Woods gave him directions to Taylor Pointe Apartments and told him to park in the back parking lot.

Woods walked behind the car, and at least three other people came to the car seconds later, all pointing guns toward the vehicle, reports show.

Mederios said Woods had an AR-15 style-pistol and approached his door on the front passenger side. Woods grabbed one of three bags of marijuana laying in the center console in the robbery attempt, reports show.

“(Woods) shot as he ran away, hitting the two,” sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Kevin Jaworski previously said.

Mederios’ family held an honor walk for him after his death.

Woods was still being held Thursday at the Indian River County Jail with no bond. It was not immediately clear when Woods would be transferred to the state prison.