Detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Robbery/Homicide Unit have arrested a man for shooting and killing his co-worker while on a job site in unincorporated Clearwater.
According to detectives, at about 1:10 p.m. on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, deputies were called to the Southern Comfort Mobile Home Park located at 24479 US Highway 19 North, in unincorporated Clearwater, for a reported shooting.
When deputies arrived they found the victim, 51-year-old Gregory Perry of Kissimmee lying in the roadway in front of lot #1204, with a gunshot wound to his torso. Perry was unresponsive and deputies performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Paramedics transported Perry to Mease Countryside Hospital where he died from his injuries.
Witnesses at the scene informed deputies that the shooter, 41-year-old Clifton Moody of Largo, shot the victim with a handgun and left the scene on foot. Within minutes, responding deputies located Moody trying to exit the west side of the mobile home park near US Highway 19 North. A deputy was able to take Moody into custody at gunpoint without incident.
Detectives say the investigation revealed that Perry and Moody were co-workers at the Labor Ready temporary employment agency in Largo. Earlier in the day, Perry and Moody were assigned with two other workers to assist with maintenance at the Southern Comfort Mobile Home Park.
Witnesses informed detectives that Perry was arguing with Moody throughout the day. Perry was upset because Moody showed up to the work site intoxicated and Perry felt that Moody was not working hard enough. During one of the arguments, Moody took out a handgun and shot Perry for no apparent reason.
Moody was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident and charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of violation of probation for kidnapping/sexual battery.