BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Two men who were found dead Tuesday night in a home in the Port St. John neighborhood were targeted, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office said late Wednesday.
Deputies were called to the home at about 9 p.m. on Ackerman Avenue near Bentley Road after a brother of one of the victims said he had not heard from them, investigators said.
Deputies identified the men as Joseph Watt, 35, and Michael Johnson Jr. 35, both of Merritt Island.
"It's very upsetting because you just don't know, you know. We're not safe, it's obvious," said neighbor Janet Roche.
One of the victim's brothers reported the men were last seen June 16 in the area of Merritt Island, deputies said.
The causes of death have not been released, but deputies said the trauma to the victims indicates homicide.
.@BrevardSheriff investigating a death inside a home on Akerman Ave. Details @WFTV pic.twitter.com/E2IPxBasaL
— Roy Ramos (@RramosTV) June 21, 2017
Joe Guarine lives across the street from the home where the men were found and said the situation was very unsettling.
"I was, like, pretty much creeped, freaked out, because it's just me and my son here all weekend," he said.
Guarine said he called deputies after seeing flashlights shining inside the home.
"It looked like they broke, or kicked, in the door, because I saw the light from inside of the house, so I knew they got in,"he said. "That's when I kind of got concerned.
"So, I went back inside and that's when I said, 'This looks too suspicious, let me call the sheriff's department."
Deputies said the men were targeted and their deaths appear to be drug related.
Anyone who has information about the deaths has been asked to call the Brevard County Sheriff's Office homicide unit at 321-633-8413 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
Cox Media Group
