The owner of an Airbnb rental in Florida called the police after witnessing a bizarre scene play out on the security cameras.
The incident unfolded on April 13 when a group of men dropped off a gunshot victim at the Heart of Florida hospital in Davenport, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. That man died at the hospital of his injuries.
Police were stymied in the investigation of what appeared to be a murder when they got a call from an Airbnb owner.
“The owner of the Airbnb looked on the security cameras and saw this traffic in and out of her house, saw this apparently deceased or very seriously injured person being carried out, and she called us,” Judd explained, “and that’s how we found the crime scene.”
Video released by the police in a Facebook post showed three men entering the home at about 8:30 p.m. and later dragging out a limp body.
They identified the victim as 29-year-old Xavier Antonio Johnson of St. Petersburg.
Police said that the victim and his associates had rented the Airbnb on April 8 and had been selling marijuana in “trafficking” amounts from the home. On April 13, the three men entered the home and allegedly shot Johnson.
Judd said that one of the suspects on the video was identified and police were able to arrest 29-year-old Justin Jenkins and charge him with murder.
He said Jenkins had 35 previous felony charges and another 20 previous misdemeanor charges. He also had been imprisoned at least three times.
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying another man who appeared to be Hispanic in the video.
Here’s the media briefing about the incident:
Grady Judd: Men involved in St. Pete man’s death seen carrying body out of Davenport house www.youtube.com