Reward Offered in Murder Case

The Gold Star Club of Manatee County, Inc. is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in last month's murder of a 17-year-old.

The reward is in addition to $1,000 Crimestoppers is offering, bringing the total reward to $6,000 for information and subsequent conviction of the suspect who shot and killed Frederick L. Edwards the evening of July 14.

Edwards' was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head and later died over the weekend. The case was classified as a homicide.

Bradenton police responded to an emergency call in the 500 block of 2nd Avenue East shortly after 6:30 p.m. When police arrived, officers discovered that the victim had been taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room and that an unidentified person had dropped off the victim and then left the hospital.

Captain Warren Merriman said that Bradenton Police Department Detectives are actively investigating this homicide, and hopes that the additional reward money will motivate witnesses to come forward with information that will assist investigators, and bring some closure to the victim’s family.

Police ask that anyone with information call Bradenton Detective Greg Price at 941-224-4265, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-634-8477. Send an anonymous tip through the web at www.manateecrimestoppers.com. Anonymous TEXT TIPS may be sent by sending “MCSTIPS plus your message” to 274637 (CRIMES). Upon conviction the tipster may be eligible for an additional reward of up to $5,000 from the Gold Star Club.