BARTOW, FL— Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, working alongside Bartow Police Department officers, have arrested a man in connection with the fatal shooting of 56-year-old Jeffrey Blevins.
According to investigators, Blevins was found with a fatal gunshot wound late Thursday night, March 26, 2026, at the Fountain Place Apartments in Bartow. Authorities said his injuries included entrance and exit wounds to the head caused by a single bullet. A 9mm shell casing was recovered at the scene.
During the investigation, detectives interviewed residents at the complex and identified David Richard Morris, 48, as a person of interest. Witnesses reported that Morris had displayed aggressive behavior toward other tenants and had a prior confrontation with Blevins before the shooting.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for Morris’ apartment, where they recovered a 9mm handgun from a bedroom closet, along with clothing and a towel appearing to have blood stains. Investigators later confirmed through ballistic testing that the firearm matched the casing found at the scene.
Morris was initially arrested on unrelated charges before being formally charged on March 28 with second-degree murder and discharging a firearm in a residential area.
At a first appearance hearing on March 29, Morris was ordered held without bond on the murder charge.
SOURCE: POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
