Person of Interest Identified in Gulfport Homicide

The Gulfport Police Department is asking Tampa Bay area residents to keep their eyes open for a man it has identified as a person of interest in the shooting death of a 41-year-old Sunday evening.

The crime in question unfolded around 2 a.m. when the Gulfport department received a call about shots fired in the 1400 block of 52nd Street South. When officers arrived on the scene they found a man complaining of a gunshot wound. The man, police reported in an email to media, was conscious and breathing.

The victim, identified as Michael A. Dayton, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center where he later died.

Dayton, police say, was on probation related to an armed robbery charge. Preliminary evidence leads police to believe Dayton was killed following an attempt to buy crack cocaine, the email stated.

Detectives now say they’ve developed a lead and would like to talk to a person of interest in the case. That person is described as being a black male about 30 years of age. He stands about 5 feet, 7 inches in height and weighs about 140 pounds. The man has a thin build, short hair and a pronounced under-bite.

Anyone with information in the case or who had contact with Dayton between Saturday evening and Sunday morning is asked to call the Gulfport Police Department at 727-582-6177. Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case. To be eligible for the reward, submit tips to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or by going online to www.CrimeStoppersofPinellas.org.

Composite sketch (image 1) and photo of victim Michael Dayton courtesy of the Gulfport Police Department

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