20-year-old woman found dead in Brevard County was shot in targeted attack, deputies say

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - The Brevard County Sheriff's Office released the identity of the woman whose body was found on the side of the road early Monday morning in West Melbourne.

The woman, 20-year-old Aniya Sheppard, a Fort Pierce resident, was shot and pronounced dead at the scene, according to officers. 

Sheppard's body was found near Eber Boulevard and Buddy Drive around 6:40 a.m. after a citizen noticed something and alerted a deputy at a nearby gas station, BCSO said in a news release.

The investigation is ongoing and investigators believe Sheppard was the intended target.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Brevard County Sheriff's Office's homicide unit at 321-633-8413, or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.