Two men are in custody following a deadly shooting at a Florida surf shop. Photo: Clearwater PD via Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Two men are in custody after a shooting in a Florida surf shop. The incident, which occurred at Surf Style surf shop, ended in the death of a 22-year-old man named Rodney Sweeney.
The shooting Tuesday night apparently happened after an argument between the victim and two other men. According to reports, 20-year-old Johnathan Stanley of Clearwater, Florida, was arrested the following night and charged with second-degree murder. Another man, Zayah Massucci, 19, was also arrested and is charged with accessory after the fact related to the shooting.
“Great work by our detectives and others to nab the suspect within 24 hours,” Clearwater Police Department tweeted.
Stanley, who is being held on a $750,000 bond, was already wanted by the police in a matter unrelated to the shooting. Sweeney died as a result of his injuries after officials respond to the second floor of Surf Style. He was taken to hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. The shooting occurred around 8 p.m.
Clearwater police believe that the men didn’t know each other, but said at a press conference that they had “some kind of verbal contact” in the minutes leading up to the shooting. Three rounds were fired, with two striking Sweeney. Police are still investigating the circumstances.
“What happens a lot of times these young adults… some of them with the intent to fight, and I think that’s what Johnathan and his little clan were involved in,” Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter said. “I think they were there to pick a fight just because it’s cool to do this.”
In surveillance video, it appears that Sweeney struck Stanley before he was shot.
“This battery is no excuse for pulling out a firearm,” Slaughter said. “It appears very likely he intended to use this firearm from the get-go. This whole incident occurred in a crowded establishment with other citizens close by.”
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Clearwater police at 727-562-4242.
