Suspect shot & killed after homeowner opens fire during home invasion: 'You should expect to be shot'

Sheriff: Homeowner shoots, kills intruder

FOX 13's Kim Kuizon reports on a man who opened fire on two home invaders, shooting and killing one as the other ran from the scene, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

BRADENTON, Fla. - A man opened fire on two home invaders on Thursday night, shooting one who later died as the other ran from the scene, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

It happened around 9 p.m. in the 6700 block of Hickory Hammock Cir. in the Lakewood Ranch area, MCSO said.

Full news conference: Deadly home invasion shooting in Manatee County

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells gave an update Friday on an attempted home invasion that led to a homeowner opening fire, hitting and killing one of the suspects.

At a news conference on Friday, Sheriff Rick Wells said the homeowner's surveillance camera detected motion on the side of the home. He then spotted two masked men, told his wife to find a safe place and grabbed his gun, Wells said.

Authorities have identified the man who was shot and killed as Jorge Nestevan Flores-Toledo, a 27-year-old from Mexico. They say he also goes by the name of Anibal Miller-Valencia.

According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Miller-Valencia had an active warrant for parole violation and was considered armed and dangerous after being arrested in Oak Brook, Illinois, in 2023, for which he served four months in jail for residential burglary before being released on parole in November of this year.

A Manatee County man opened fire on two would-be home invaders on Thursday night, shooting one as the other ran from the scene, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Miller-Valencia was shot multiple times and rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he died Friday morning, according to Wells.

"This is the state of Florida. If you want to break into someone's home, you should expect to be shot," Wells said.

Wells said the homeowner's surveillance camera detected motion on the side of the home. He then spotted two masked men, told his wife to find a safe place and grabbed his gun, Wells said.

"He knew something bad was about to happen, and he didn’t stall. He grabbed his firearm, told his wife to get into a safe spot," said Wells.

Nearby neighbors heard what happened next.

"I sat down next to the lanai, the door was open. I vividly heard three gunshots," said John Nuceder who was visiting a family member.

MCSO said the other suspect, later identified as Michel Soto-Mella, 39, was tracked down by K9 dogs and arrested a few blocks from the house.

Michel Soto-Mella mugshot (Courtesy: MCSO).

Wells said Soto-Mella was in the country illegally from Chile after his 90-day visa expired in September. No further details on the man who died have been released.

"We're trying to get everything that we can from the [surviving] suspect," Wells said. "He's being somewhat cooperative, but he's not telling us everything."

In court, Soto-Mella used a translator as he was ordered to be held in custody for a pre-trial detention hearing.
"I just want to say I never had any firearms," said Soto-Mella through a translator.

"Sir, I don’t want you to talk about the facts of the case," said the judge.

MCSO says they are still investigating the motives of the two men.

Soto-Mella has been charged with armed burglary, but additional charges are pending.

Detectives could charge him with felony murder, since his accomplice died while carrying out a crime.

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