BRADENTON, Fla. — The suspect in a workplace shooting at the Tropicana Plant in Bradenton last year is in custody.
Demetrius Tyrone Bell, 51, was arrested today in Bradenton. Bell is suspected of going into the Tropicana Bradenton Plant after his scheduled shift on June 5, 2023, shooting a male coworker and forcing a female coworker to leave with him. The woman was released two days later, and Bell has been on the run ever since.
On Monday, Bradenton Police received a tip that Bell was back in the Bradenton area. Police attempted to arrest Bell, but he ran from them. Officers then spotted him clinging to the roof of the storage facility at the 2800 block of Manatee Avenue. He was taken into custody by Bradenton Police.
The man accused of shooting a coworker at Tropicana Bradenton, and kidnapping another coworker, is in custody. Demetrius Bell was arrested by BPD while clinging to a roof. Thank you to @HCSOSheriff for being our eyes in the sky. MORE:https://t.co/vS0zwc1NqZ pic.twitter.com/iA34oeIKlH
— Bradenton Police Department (@BradentonPD) April 16, 2024
Bell is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, armed kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. More charges may be forthcoming, according to police.
Pasco County woman trying to rebuild mobile home after hurricanes
"I cried, of course, because I've worked very hard getting it nice, which has been difficult for me since I lost my husband and being alone,” Kelly Welty said.
Welty's mobile home lost its roof during Hurricane Milton. She said it was the only one in the Buena Vista community to get totaled by a tornado.
