Michael Vititoe is now facing three counts of first-degree murder, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said yesterday
Michael Vititoe had previously been arrested shortly after the shooting and was already facing charges of simple battery and a charge of accessory after the fact of a homicide.
He is now facing three counts of first-degree murder, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said yesterday, according to WPTV.
The sheriff's office added that Vititoe, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, had been apprehended and was being taken to the Palm Beach County jail.
The other suspect, Morey Pinard III, who was 23, faces three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted second-degree murder, one count of shooting into building, one count of a felon possessing a firearm.
The shooting at The Rock Irish Pub in Lake Worth Beach on December 10 claimed the lives of three employees of the Old Key Lime House in Lantana.
Christopher Allen and Steven Stratis were killed the night of the shooting while Reginald Gordon (50) died later that month. A fourth man shot in the incident survived his injuries.
Staff told WPTV they were out celebrating their annual holiday party when a group of employees went to The Rock Irish Pub to pay pool.
Police at the scene of the deadly shooting last December
Police at the scene of the deadly shooting last December
According to a preliminary investigation, an altercation occurred inside the pub, which led to the shooting.
It is believed the shooting occurred following a row in the bar earlier in the evening.
Allen (33) and Stratis (24), were found dead at the scene.
Following a manhunt, two men were charged after being arrested by Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBCSO).
Pinard III initially faced two counts of second-degree murder with a firearm and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, authorities said.
Vititoe (19) also initially faced charges of simple battery and accessory after the fact.
According to police, a witness said he became involved in a row with Pinard and Vititoe while taking photographs at the holiday party.
He said the men bumped into him and caused him to drop his camera.
When he asked if they were okay, they replied "Yo, you got a problem?"
Following a brief argument, Pinard and Vititoe allegedly asked the witness to step outside of the pub.
The witness claims Vititoe punched him in the face and Pinard pulled out a gun and began shooting.
Another witness reported hearing approximately nine shots and only saw Pinard firing.
Jackie Slattery explained that she and her colleagues had gone to the Rock Irish Pub after attending their Christmas party.
She said: "I stepped out for a little bit.
"When I came back I saw the police pull up, immediately ran in and saw two of our co-workers deceased on the floor, one in pretty bad condition, the other one had already ran out and found an ambulance. But four people shot," she said.
Ryan Cordero, the owner of Old Key Lime House, described the gun killer as a “monster.”
He said: "After a night of celebrating Christmas with each other, having, enjoying all of the fruits of life and the good times, and then this absolute tragedy happens. Some vile monster.
"The person who did this is a vile monster?" we asked him. "Absolutely, he killed two innocent people," Cordero said.
Cordero said he hoped the gunman “rots in hell”
"You keep feeling like you're just gonna wake up and this is just a little nightmare or something.
"It's, you can't wrap your head around it yet. It's not real yet," Cordero said.
A friend of Stratis, Tina Dearinger, had earlier paid tribute to him, saying: “We’re lucky to have gotten to share some time with a beautiful soul."