Prior argument blamed in fatal drive-by shooting

A drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of an Immokalee mother stemmed from a prior argument between the gunman and a man who was shot in the ankle, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities said the motive appeared to be retaliation for an argument involving Hector Ramirez Jr., 18, and Henry Mancha, 18, 1207 N. 19th Terrace, at Mancha’s home. Ramirez is recovering from a gunshot wound to the ankle.

The Tuesday shooting occurred about 8 p.m. at 1304 Peach St., where a group of people had gathered. The drive-by shooting killed Melinda Gonzalez, 30, who was married with four children.

Mancha and another man have been charged in connection with the incident. Both are documented street gang “associates,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Deputies said Roberto Carlos Argueta, Tara Park, No. 3, pulled the trigger. Mancha was the driver of a blue Cadillac used during the shooting, authorities said.

On Wednesday, Mancha's mother came to authorities with information that her son was driving the car involved in the shooting, the Sheriff’s Office said. She told officials her son was upset and wanted to talk to investigators.

Deputies traveled to her home in Labelle, where they found the blue 1991 Cadillac involved in the shooting, and talked to Mancha.

Mancha has been charged with murder, not premeditated, during a felony, and attempted felony murder with injury by another, authorities said.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were tipped off that a suspect in the shooting was in a car in Immokalee about 5 p.m. Wednesday. A deputy found the car on Roberts Avenue and the three men inside, including Argueta, were taken into custody for questioning.

Argueta matched the police bulletin issued earlier in the day. He was later arrested.

Argueta has been charged with premeditated murder for the death of Gonzalez. He has also been charged with attempted felony murder causing injury in connection with the shooting of Ramirez in the ankle, authorities said.