John Skeen was arrested at the church where the sheriff was speaking
John Skeen shot and killed a man during a fishing trip, MPs said. (Mug Photo: Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
A murder suspect was arrested during a church service at which the local sheriff was speaking, according to deputies.
John Skeen, 56, was arrested Sunday morning on a Hillsborough County, Fla., warrant for second-degree murder with a firearm.
Local MPs claim three friends stayed at a residence in Ruskin Township on Friday for a fishing trip. There was an argument that led to the shooting, officials said.
“That evening the three went to a local bar and later returned home,” MPs said. “A verbal altercation ensued between the victim and Skeen. During the verbal altercation, the suspect fired a gun, which hit the victim and resulted in his death.”
Skeen had shot the man in the torso. The victim was pronounced dead at a local hospital, authorities said.
Deputies said that Skeen was a resident of Polk City in Polk County, Florida.
According to the arrest affidavit, a Polk County deputy said he first checked Skeen’s home to find him, but discovered through a lead that he was at 5995 Green Pond Road in Polk City, the documents say . This is the address of Green Pond Baptist Church.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd was there as a guest speaker Sunday morning, authorities said.
“The deputies managed to get Skeen out of the church without disrupting the service,” the Polk County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook. “Skeen asked Sergeant Evans (the same sergeant who made headlines last week by helping a woman give birth in her car) if he could go back inside for the rest of the service so he could “dedicate his life to the Lord before.” he’s going to jail.’ Of course, there was no way Sgt. Evans would allow that, but the sergeant told Skeen they could take a moment to pray together before going to the Sheriff’s Processing Center to register.”
They prayed together outside the church and then went to jail, MPs said.
“What should have been a fun fishing trip filled with great memories turned into a tragic weekend,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said of the murder. “Violence is never the solution to a disagreement. Our hearts go out to the family of this victim and we hope this arrest brings some sense of closure to the loved ones.”
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