Miami Beach Police: Club Crime Scene Where Chef Was Shot Was "Contaminated"
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) - As the crowd of club-goers spilled out of Mansion nightclub on South Beach following a deadly shooting early Tuesday morning, crime scene technicians moved in, but not before a cleaning crew managed to get to work in the V-I-P area, where celebrity chef Antaun Teasely was shot.
Miami Beach Police confirm the crime scene was "contaminated" by the maintenance team that likely was unaware of the violence that had taken place there just a short time earlier.
A department spokesman says it's possible key evidence, like fingerprints or blood spatter, was mopped up or tossed out before cops had a chance to process it.
As of Wednesday night, police still had no leads.
The Antaun Teasley's identical twin brother says the murder was a "cowardly act."
Antwaun Teasley said, "It would mean a lot to bring the person to justice. It was a cowardly act but I forgive him."
Click here to watch Lauren Pastrana's report.
Teasley and the victim's two teenage nephews spoke to CBS4's Peter D'Oench outside the North Bay Village apartment complex where the celebrity chef used to live. Teasley's loved ones including his mother have come to South Florida from their home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Antaun Teasley was shot during a fight between two groups in the VIP section of Club Mansion around 3:41 a.m. on Tuesday.
Hundreds of club goers rushed out of the Club after hearing at least one shot.
Antaun Teasley worked for numerous athletes including Miami Heat players Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers.
"He was an excellent person," said his brother Antwaun Teasley. "He was a celebrity chef. He brought his A game every time. He brought energy and love. He was just an excellent chef and an excellent person. He made soul food because he put his soul in to that food."
"He helped a lot of families because when you cook for them it is an intimate deal," said his brother. "He was always doing the right thing. He always made someone smile."
"It hurts you know, he was my identical twin brother," said Antwaun Teasley. "But on the other hand, it doesn't hurt because it's like his spirit flew right in to me and gave me the strength and energy to push forward."
He said, "My brother was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I can't speculate. I can't assume. I just know it. Was it direct or was it intentional? I have a lot of questions. To the public, if you know who did it, please come forward."
Teasley's teenage nephews are also saddened by their loss.
"Everyone loved him," said 12-year-old Adrian Griffin, Teasley's nephew. "Everyone cared about him. He was a celebrity chef and a good chef. He was on top of his game. He provided for his family members and he made everyone smile."
"He knew me since I was born," said Teasley's 13-year-old nephew Carlos Mateo. "It's hard to believe how he would die over such a cowardly act. I just feel like he didn't deserve it."
Mateo also said, "This was a cowardly act. Somebody needs to come forward and say who did this. This is not about snitching. This is about justice."
Antwaun Teasley said funeral arrangements for his brother are incomplete.
"The family just got here from Cleveland and we are grieving. We are not sure what the plans are at this point," he said.
Miami Beach Police Sgt. And spokesman Bobby Hernandez told D'Oench that police do not have a description of the gunman after interviewing at least six witnesses and police have no surveillance tape to release.
It's also not clear what prompted the shooting.
The club was back open Wednesday night.
Teasley's loved ones tell D'Oench that they hope anyone with information on this case will call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305)471-TIPS (8477).
There's a reward of up to $3,000 in this case.
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