Tampa police have arrested a 17-year-old suspect in connection to the fatal shooting of a man whose body was found in an Ybor City lot this month.
The suspect was arrested on a murder charge Tuesday, 12 days after 34-year-old James McClendon Jr.’s body was discovered. The Tampa Bay Times is not naming the suspectbecause it was not clear Wednesday if he will be charged as an adult.
The investigation began on Dec. 9, when police received a missing person report for McClendon, according to the Tampa Police Department. Officers found McClendon’s rental car abandoned in the 3500 block of East 27th Avenue. There was a 9mm shell casing inside the car.
The investigation led detectives to an empty lot in the 2700 block of East 18th Avenue, where McClendon’s body was found. He’d died from a gunshot wound.
Detectives learned that McClendon drove to a gas station in the 2900 block of North 50th Street and picked up the teen suspect, who was wearing distinctive clothing and bright blue shoes, according to police.
Investigators got a warrant and searched the teen’s home, where they found more evidence linking him to the shooting, including a 9mm shell casing, police said.
Police arrested the teen Tuesday afternoon near Rowlett Park, and he was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.
Police did not release any more information. An arrest affidavit was not immediately available.