A man was recently arrested for murder in a fatal shooting at a Home Suites in Central Florida.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Angel Gonzalez-Morales in the Polo Park area of Davenport on his warrant for second degree murder for the shooting death of Elijah Johnson that occurred in August at the Home Suites located in Davenport near the I-4 & US 27 interchange.
Upon his arrest, deputies found a clear plastic baggie containing over 16 grams of Fentanyl. As a result, he was also charged with Trafficking in Fentanyl, a first degree felony.
“I could not be more proud of my Homicide team and all the deputies, detectives, investigators, and support staff who together worked around the clock to take this dangerous suspect into custody,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “If you kill someone in this county, we will hunt you down to the ends of the earth and put you in jail. We do not tolerate violence of any kind here.”
Detectives are still seeking information about the firearm used in this crime. Heartland Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that results in the recovery of the murder weapon.
Upon arrival, deputies located Elijah Johnson, who was found lying on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound to the shoulder. Johnson was alert and breathing but unresponsive. Life-saving measures were administered on scene, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Witnesses in the area reported hearing a gunshot and observed a suspect fleeing on foot into a red sedan occupied by another individual. The vehicle was seen leaving the parking lot, and a witness noted that it stopped a short distance away, where the suspect exited and ran into the woods.
Shortly thereafter, deputies located the red sedan at a McDonald’s near US Highway 27 and Sand Mine Road. The driver and registered owner of the vehicle, 39-year-old Angel Efrain-Reillo, was taken into custody without incident.
The passenger, identified as 29-year-old Angel Gonzalez-Morales, was positively identified as the shooter, and deputies obtained a warrant for his arrest for second degree murder.
