Investigators from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a death investigation at a residence in Indian Rocks Beach.
On August 22, 2020 at approximately 4:44 a.m., deputies responded to an emergency call. When deputies arrived at 1214 Bay Pine Boulevard in Indian Rocks Beach they discovered 35 year-old Jose Ruana deceased. He was located in the residence with a gunshot wound.
Detectives say the homeowner, 40-year-old Justin Miller and Ruana were friends and had been drinking together at a bar earlier that evening.
Detectives determined after drinking, the two men returned to Miller’s home after midnight. At some point, Miller thought there was an unknown intruder in his home and shot the subject in his living room.
Detectives say afterwards the subject was identified as his friend, Ruana.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined there was no evidence of a burglary or an intruder at the residence.
Miller was arrested and charged with one count of Manslaughter and transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.
The investigation continues.