CLEARWATER, Fla. — A 20-year-old man accused of shooting and killing a person Tuesday night at a Surf Style store in Clearwater was arrested Wednesday evening, police say.
Johnathan Stanley is accused of shooting 22-year-old Rodney Sweeney. Stanley and will be charged with second-degree murder, according to a Wednesday update from police.
He was detained by detectives at the Clearwater Mall nearly an hour after an arrest warrant was issued for him, authorities say.
"Many of our detectives and officers are working non-stop to find the killer
and hold him accountable," Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter said in an earlier statement. "Detectives have interviewed dozens of witnesses and leveraged the technology investments made to ensure people who commit senseless violence are captured and prosecuted."
At around 8 p.m., police responded to a report of a shooting that happened inside the Surf Style store on South Gulfview Boulevard, a spokesperson for the Clearwater Police Department said.
Responding officers immediately answered the call and found Sweeney hurt inside the shop on the second floor, Deputy Chief of Police Michael Walek said during a news conference. They were able to render aid until paramedics and firefighters arrived.
Sweeney was then transported to Morton Plant Hospital with life-threatening injuries, Walek said. He later died.
Based on the investigation, police say they believe the shooting stemmed from an argument between Stanley and Sweeney inside the store.
"I want to reiterate, I do not believe there is a threat to the public right now," Walek said. "This was an isolated incident that occurred between two people that appear to have gotten into a fight."
Clearwater Beach is a popular spring break destination along Florida's west coast. Walek said while they've had many calls recently, none have been like Tuesday night's shooting.
"We do have an additional manpower out here right now to address spring break problems, but nothing like this," Walek said.
10 Tampa Bay's Jordan Highsmith and Claire Farrow contributed to this report.