Police: Suspect arrested in 2007 homicide

Update, 7:51 p.m. March 2:

The investigation into a 2007 Rockledge homicide ended Monday with charges for a man already in prison after detectives found a witness willing to testify.

Elated family members of John Clifton Jr., met with detectives and shared the news about the arrest of Tamond Cole, an inmate held on unrelated charges at the medium security Franklin Correctional Institute south of Tallahassee. The Rockledge Police Department charged Cole with second-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 1, 2007 shooting death of Clifton, the owner of a landscaping business. He was 36.

"Finally," said Cathy Clifton, choking back emotions about the arrest in an interview with FLORIDA TODAY. "My son was a very caring person, there was nothing he wouldn't do for you. I'm happy now with the charges but I'll be even happier when they get every one of the murderers. There are more to get," said Clifton, who said she cradled her son moments after he was shot. "I saw them do it, they did it in front of me. I saw the car sitting out front," she said. "My son was looking right at me and they shot him."

Police said Cole, along with several other men, turned up at Clifton's mother's home in Rockledge following a dispute. "It wasn't random. There was some sort of incident between them, and Cole went to the mother's house. Cole and Clifton got into a fight and the suspect pulled out a gun. He fired one round," said Donna Seyferth, a spokeswoman for the Rockledge Police Department.

Police hope the charge could help bring other arrests.

Since the incident, detectives suspected Cole and others but were unable to link him directly to the death. That changed once detectives found someone willing to tell what they saw, police said. The focus, however, remained on Cole who in 2008 was sentenced to state prison on an aggravated battery charge, court records show. Tamond, identified by authorities with tattoos of the word "Mom," and "Thug" on his right arm, is serving 15 years on that charge, state records show. He also has a criminal record that includes time served for charges ranging from forgery, to grand theft and possession of cocaine.

Police were still unclear as to the exact motive for the slaying.

In an effort to keep the case fresh in people's minds, Cathy Clifton put her son's picture up on billboards, one of which was on U.S. 1 and another off State Road 520 between Clearlake and Range roads. She also told the story of her emotional journey in a YouTube video titled "Justice for John Clifton." The case was also featured nationally on the true crime program 'America's Most Wanted.' Monday, she thanked detectives profusely for their work on the case.

"I just want to thank them all from the bottom of my heart," she said.

Police and prosecutors are now working to have their suspect brought back to Brevard County to face the murder charge. "This is a case that's always been on our radar," Seyferth said.

"It's an old case and one that we never let go of," Seyferth said.