Arrest Made in the February Shooting at the Fountains of Largo

Arrest Made in the February Shooting at the Fountains of Largo

June 17, 2014

On February 20th, 2014 at 5:33am, Largo Police responded to 13125 Wilcox Rd in reference to a 41 year-old female, identified as Kristen Gannon getting shot in the leg. The shooting suspect knocked on the victim’s door and asked to speak to the victim’s live in boyfriend, 36 year-old John Black. The suspect briefly spoke to Gannon and Black outside the apartment and then fired a round striking Gannon in the leg.

Initial investigation revealed that Black was involved in a disturbance the prior day that was investigated by Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) and Black may have been the intended target of the shooting.  During the prior incident, Black was investigated as a suspect in a voyeurism case at a tanning salon.  PCSO forwarded voyeurism charges to the State Attorney’s Office.  The victim’s boyfriend, 22 year-old Michael Schmidt responded to the tanning salon and was angry over the incident and that Black was not arrested.

After the voyeurism incident, but prior to the shooting taking place, PCSO received a report that Michael Schmidt had impersonated a deputy in an effort to locate Black’s residence.  PCSO responded to Schmidt’s residence moments prior to the shooting and arrested Schmidt for impersonating a police officer and was later interviewed by Largo Detectives and denied any involvement in the shooting.

Largo Police Detectives obtained Schmidt’s cell phone records and after analyzing the call logs were able to identify a subject, 24 year-old Frank Robinson that was in constant contact with Schmidt’s phone throughout the night of the shooting.

Largo detectives learned that Schmidt offered Frank Robinson money to shoot John Black in retaliation for the voyeurism incident.  Robinson declined the offer but agreed to make Schmidt’s offer to a 20 year-old Justin Dahlstrom.  Dahlstrom agreed to shoot Black in exchange for money. Largo Detectives were able to confirm that Schmidt met with Dahlstrom prior to the shooting and they learned that Schmidt provided Dahlstrom with the firearm that he subsequently used in the shooting.

On May 24, 2014, Justin Dahlstrom was arrested on a warrant for Attempted Homicide that was obtained by Largo Detectives.

On June 17, 2014, with the assistance of the Pinellas State Attorney’s Office, a warrant was issued for Michael Schmidt  for Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Attempted Homicide.  Schmidt was arrested without incident on 06/17/14.