Pinellas Park Detectives Make Arrest In Fatal Shooting Of Visitor

PINELLAS PARK, FL -- Pinellas Park Police homicide investigators have identified a suspect in the homicide of 20-year-old Maurice A. Cole of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

According to police, Cole was in the parking lot of the Bell Apartments, 4030 78th Ave., Pinellas Park, where his girlfriend lives on Friday, July 27, around 7 p.m. (See related story.)

Witnesses said he was talking to another person when that person shot him. He died at Northside Hospital.

The shooter fled the scene.

Following their investigation, detectiv3es have identified Derrion Rich, 24 of St. Petersburg as a suspect in the shooting and arrested him at his home Sunday, July 29, without incident.

Detectives believe the shooting was the result of a dispute over a narcotics transaction that took place between Cole and Rich.

Rich has been charged with first-degree murder and booked into the Pinellas County Jail with no bond.

Rich has a lengthy criminal history that includes felony and narcotics charges that date back to January 2013.

Image via Pinellas Park Police

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