Three Arrested After Fatal Port St. Lucie Shooting Involving Rival Biker Clubs
Port St. Lucie police have arrested three suspects following a deadly shooting early Sunday morning that claimed the life of a local motorcyclist. The incident, believed to involve rival biker clubs, took place at the intersection of Southwest California Boulevard and Southwest Greenan Lane at around 1 a.m. The victim, identified as 53-year-old Dan Sanders, was fatally shot in the abdomen.
Sanders, a Port St. Lucie resident, was airlifted to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Six shell casings were recovered at the scene of the shooting, according to police.
Lead-up to the Shooting
Police reports indicate that Sanders was involved in an altercation with another individual at The Office Sports Pub on U.S. Highway 1 approximately an hour before the shooting. Port St. Lucie Assistant Police Chief Leo Niemczyk stated that following this fight, three suspects were called to the scene by an associate.
The suspects—who had been at City Limits Sports Bar on Southwest Gatlin Boulevard—arrived at The Office Sports Pub shortly after the call. After staying for about 15 minutes, they pursued Sanders at speeds exceeding 100 mph in a blue Nissan Sentra, eventually catching up to him on Southwest California Boulevard, where the shooting occurred.
The Suspects
The suspects have been identified as:
- Victor Omar Alvarez, 23, of Port St. Lucie, who faces one count of first-degree murder. Alvarez is accused of firing the fatal shot from the front passenger seat of the Nissan Sentra as Sanders rode his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
- Kyle James Driscoll, 25, of Jensen Beach, faces one count of first-degree murder. Police say Driscoll was driving the Nissan during the pursuit.
- Nevaeh Rae Gonsalves, 21, of Port St. Lucie, is charged with accessory after the fact, a life felony. Gonsalves, who was a backseat passenger in the Nissan, allegedly provided false information to detectives and attempted to forge a bar receipt to create an alibi.
The suspects were located and arrested a few hours after the shooting at a home on Southeast Glover Street in Port St. Lucie.
Rival Biker Clubs Tension
According to Niemczyk, Sanders was a known member of the Rough Riders Motorcycle Club and associated with the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club. The suspects, Alvarez and Driscoll, were identified as associates of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club.
Niemczyk noted that while the Outlaws have long dominated the region’s biker club scene, tensions have risen in recent years with the arrival of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, leading to clashes over criminal territory.
“Florida has been overwhelmingly in the Outlaws Motorcycle Club territory for many years, and it’s been very peaceful for all intents and purposes,” Niemczyk said. “But more recently, we’ve seen an influx of Pagans in the area, and there have been situations where the two have clashed.”
Surveillance footage from both The Office Sports Pub and the shooting site was instrumental in identifying the suspects and their vehicle.
Ongoing Investigation
The exact cause of the initial altercation between Sanders and the individuals involved remains under investigation. When asked if this type of crime was common in the area, Niemczyk responded, “Not like this, not here.”
The three suspects are currently being held without bond at the St. Lucie County jail. This shooting marks the second fatal incident involving rival biker clubs in Port St. Lucie in the past year. In a 2023 incident, a 39-year-old man was shot and killed outside Harpers Pub, also in connection with biker gang activity.
Neighbors React
In the wake of the arrests, neighbors have expressed shock. Toni Ann Meyers, who lives next door to Alvarez, described him as a quiet and respectful young man. “If you asked me in a million years, I would’ve been like, ‘no, he’s a good kid,’” Meyers said. “He’s been very respectable the times I have interacted with him.”
As authorities continue to investigate, the incident has raised concerns about escalating violence between biker gangs in the region.
