Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested a Plant City man Aug. 20, in connection with a homicide that took place earlier this month.
Robert Alton Henderson, 21, of Plant City, faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted robbery with a firearm, grand theft auto and criminal mischief.
According to Sheriff’s Office reports, at about 11:20 p.m. Aug.8, Henderson shot and killed Shelby Jones, 52, during a robbery at 11024 Old Hillsborough Ave., No. 2., in Seffner. Jones’ brother, who witnessed the murder, said he and his brother were sitting in his brother’s shed, when Henderson came into the shed with a black cap on his head and a black bandana covering his face. He entered and said, “Give it up,” and then struck the victim’s brother in the head with the firearm. He then turned and shot Jones and fled from the shed.
During the course of the investigation, other witnesses came forward to relay that the defendant confessed to shooting the victim and provided information to the witnesses only the shooter would know. At that time, detectives named Henderson as a suspect in the homicide.
Henderson was seen driving a stolen pickup at about 10:42 a.m. Aug. 20, in the area of Knights Griffin Road and Cooper Road. When Henderson noticed he was being followed, he fled and crashed into a tree a short distance away. He then exited the vehicle and fled on foot into the woods and then into a pond. He was apprehended inside of the pond and taken into custody.