Teen Held In Death Of Man Who Refused To Buy Alcohol

A teenager is charged with second-degree murder in the death of a homeless man, who police say was beaten because he refused to buy alcohol for juveniles.

The homeless man, Donald Blake, 49, died Wednesday after being beaten behind a shopping mall near Bradenton, police said.

“There was an altercation,” said David Bristow, spokesman for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, about Blake over “not wanting to buy alcohol for a juvenile … that is the initial story.”

On Friday, a 16-year-old surrendered to authorities and confessed, authorities said.

A second suspect remained at large Sunday.

The state attorney’s office had not yet decided whether the 16-year-old would be tried as an adult.