A Bartow man has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder following a fatal shooting that occurred late last week at an apartment complex.
Incident Details
On the night of Thursday, March 26, 2026, Bartow Police were dispatched to an apartment complex at 1430 North Wilson Avenue. They found 56-year-old Jeffrey Lee Blevins outside in a pool of blood. Blevins had been talking to his mother on the phone when he suddenly stopped responding; his sister discovered him shortly after. He was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head.
The Arrest and Motive
Over the weekend, authorities arrested David Richard Morris in connection with the killing.
- Relationship: Morris was Blevins’ upstairs neighbor.
- Motive: During the investigation, it was revealed that Morris is a self-described “conspiracy theorist.” While a specific “reason” for the shooting remains logically unclear, reports indicate that Morris may have acted based on paranoid delusions or unfounded suspicions regarding his neighbor.
- Charges: Morris is facing charges of second-degree murder and is currently being held in the Polk County Jail.
Sheriff Grady Judd and Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker noted that the investigation is ongoing, but they emphasized that the victim appeared to be a completely innocent party who was simply standing outside his home at the time of the attack.