Daytona Beach Man Charged In Killing Of Mother's Boyfriend

Date Added: July 15, 2019 11:25 am

Chris Graham
Community Information Specialist
grahamc@deland.org
Office: 386-626-7117
Cell: 386-872-0821

DAYTONA BEACH MAN CHARGED IN KILLING OF MOTHER'S BOYFRIEND

A Daytona Beach man has been charged with second-degree murder after shooting and killing his mother's boyfriend. 

Alonzo Harkness, 25, was taken into custody by Daytona Beach Police a day after Roosevelt Thomas, 60, was found dead inside his DeLand apartment at 430 South Parsons Avenue. 

Police were responding to the apartment after Harkness' mother contacted law enforcement as she was concerned about his mental state. While en-route, dispatchers reported someone had possibly been shot at the location.

Upon arrival, police made entry into the apartment and found Thomas lying on the floor in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to his back. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Harkness's mother later explained to detectives that her son had asked to stay at her residence she shared with Thomas, whom she had been dating for seven years. While she was in the bedroom with Thomas, she heard Harkness have a heated phone conversation and after hanging up called out to her saying "he needed help." Harkness claimed to be having suicidal thoughts and wanted to kill himself and wished to be admitted to a facility. 

After calling law enforcement, Harkness's mother was getting dressed by the closet when she heard Harkness and Thomas talking but couldn't make out what they were saying. Harkness then came into the bedroom with a gun and asked Thomas, "Do you think I'm crazy?" before shooting him.

Harkness fled the area and was found the next day in Daytona Beach.

Harkness is charged with second-degree murder and is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on no bond.