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Matthew Dennis faces charges of first-degree murder following the tragic death of Clifford Tennant.
PALATKA, Fla. — Authorities have apprehended 28-year-old Matthew Dennis in connection with a homicide case involving the death of 47-year-old Clifford Tennant, as reported by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Responding to reports of gunshots on Tuesday evening, deputies arrived at the vicinity of Carole Road near Alabama Avenue and Roddy Road, where they discovered Tennant’s lifeless body along a wooded path.
A 911 caller reported hearing gunfire and subsequently found Tennant injured and bleeding, prompting the emergency call.
The investigation gained momentum swiftly, with detectives identifying Dennis as a suspect and securing an arrest warrant through judicial approval, according to police statements.
PCSO reached out to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office whose SWAT team executed the warrant and arrested Dennis.
Dennis has been charged with first degree murder and is being held at the St. Johns County Jail. He is being held without bond.
“I want to commend everyone who worked on this case and the teamwork with the state attorney’s office and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in allowing us to quickly apprehend Matthew Dennis,” H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach said.
He continued: “Very early in this investigation, detectives were working tirelessly to solve this case, and they did just that. There are a lot of moving parts behind the scenes that the public may not be privy to, but at the end of the day, our job is to see that the guilty party is punished and the victim’s family can have closure.”