Teen Charged In Real Estate Agent's Death In Fort Lauderdale: Prosecutors

A teenager is facing charges as an adult for allegedly kidnapping and killing a real estate agent during a robbery in South Florida, according to sources.

The Broward County Attorney's Office said the 15-year-old suspect was charged with second-degree murder and armed robbery in the adult system. The boy was reportedly a student at Pompano Beach.

Surveillance video shows the suspect kidnapping 37-year-old Stefano Barbosa around 4:20 p.m. on February 1, according to Fort Lauderdale Detective Orlando Almanzar. Records say the incident happened outside of a home along Northwest 15th Terrace, between Northwest Seventh Street and Sistrunk Boulevard.

The teenage suspect allegedly told Barbosa to get back in his BMW and make two $500 withdrawals from a Bank of America ATM, according to records. Barbosa was driving his vehicle while the suspect sat in the passenger's seat, detectives said. That's when the suspect shot Barbosa multiple times," according to Almanzar.

"Officers found Barbosa dead at 500 NW 19th Ave. The BMW ran over a chain-link fence and crashed into a palm tree in front of a home. Lewis ran out of the car, records show. Surveillance video shows him running on Northwest 18th Avenue," Local 10 wrote.

The teenager was later arrested on unrelated charges on February 4. Investigators said they seized his cell phone and found evidence confirming that the suspect was at the bank and crash site on February 1.

Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor wrote in a statement that charging the teen as an adult was a difficult decision to make.

“This young person’s issues are so significant that they require treatment, help, and services beyond what the juvenile justice system can provide at this time,” Pryor said.

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