The motorcycle suspect who shot a biker of a different club Friday on I-4 near U.S. 27 had his charges updated after the Brevard County woman who rode as a passenger on his motorcycle died later that day.
Ronald Donovan, 38, of Cocoa now faces a second-degree felony murder charge, an attempted first-degree murder charge, a charge for possession of a firearm by convicted felon, a tampering with evidence charge, two counts of resisting with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer after a shootout between him and an Osceola County biker.
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The shootout happened shortly after midnight when, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the two groups neared U.S. 27 and members of the Thug Riders Motorcycle Club passed members of the Sin City Deciples club while traveling from Tampa to points east of Polk County.
Judd said at a Friday press conference that Donovan, part of the Sin City Deciples, shot one of the Thug Riders, a 36-year-old male, in the back. The 36-year-old male, whose name was not released by the sheriff’s office, shot back, striking the 33-year-old woman on the back of Donovan’s motorcycle in the head. Because of her gunshot wound, she died at the hospital later that day.
According to the affidavit, four bullet holes were apparent on the motorcycle of the Thug Riders member and 18 shell casings were recovered from the east bound lanes of I-4.
The casings scattered along I-4 started approximately 250 yards west of U.S. 27 and ended approximately 50 yards west of U.S. 27, according to the affidavit.
Donovan’s first appearance hearing was held on Saturday.
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