Clearwater Police have charged a 24-year-old man with first-degree murder in Monday night’s slaying on Woodlawn Street.
Brian Michael Vicario of 1125 Kingsley St. is being held in the Pinellas County Jail without bond this morning.
Vicario is accused of breaking into the apartment of R.C. Brown, who lived in Apartment 202 at 910 Woodlawn St., about 10 p.m. Monday. He broke out a window of the apartment to gain entry and then stabbed and shot the 53-year-old victim, who died at the scene.
Vicario then attempted to flee the scene in his car, but the car had mechanical troubles and stopped running on Woodlawn Street just east of the crime scene. He was taken into custody by police officers responding to a call of gunshots in the area.
The suspect admitted to detectives that he broke in and shot and stabbed the victim multiple times, but the motive remains unclear.
The two were known to one another.
Detectives are continuing their investigation to establish a clear motive.
