An 86-year-old man and a family dog were found dead in a South St. Petersburg home on Tuesday. A suspect is now in custody.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A man has been arrested and will be charged with murder after a shooting in St. Petersburg left an 86-year-old man and a dog dead.
St. Petersburg police say 43-year-old Jason Blythe was arrested Wednesday on unrelated charges and will be formally charged in connection with the homicide.
The 86-year-old man was found dead Tuesday evening at a home on 11th Street S near 58th Avenue S., along with his adult son’s dog that was staying with him.
The motive for the killing remains unclear, but police say the victim and suspect knew each other.
Blythe is currently being held without bond in Hillsborough County for a warrant out of Tifton County, Georgia, for aggravated assault on a police officer and fleeing and eluding.
He will be transported to Pinellas County Jail once an arrest warrant is filed and charged with first-degree homicide, animal cruelty and felon in possession of a firearm.