A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in Palatka that left a 47-year-old man dead, according to authorities.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said Matthew Dennis was taken into custody following the fatal shooting of Clifford Tennant.
Deputies responded Tuesday evening to reports of gunfire near Carole Road, close to Alabama Avenue and Roddy Road in Palatka. When they arrived, they found Tennant dead along a wooded trail.
Investigators said the person who called 911 reported hearing gunshots before discovering Tennant bleeding at the scene.
Detectives quickly identified Dennis as a potential suspect, and a judge issued an arrest warrant. The sheriff’s office then coordinated with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, whose SWAT team executed the warrant and arrested Dennis.
Dennis has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond at the St. Johns County Jail.
“I want to commend everyone who worked on this case and the teamwork with the state attorney’s office and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in allowing us to quickly apprehend Matthew Dennis,” said H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach.
DeLoach added that detectives worked tirelessly from the early stages of the investigation to ensure the suspect was quickly brought into custody, noting that while much of the work happens behind the scenes, the ultimate goal is justice for the victim’s family.
