On March 19, 2023, at about 7 p.m., officers in Bradenton found Dwight Sutton, Sr., 56, shot outside a home in the 700 block of 17th Street Court East. Sutton died at the scene after officers and paramedics performed CPR. The Manatee County Homicide Task Force and Bradenton Police Detective Brian Sands led the investigation.

Investigators initially named Michael Alonzo Phillips, 58, as a person of interest and later determined he had orchestrated Sutton’s murder. Phillips was arrested in Sarasota County on July 2, 2024, on a charge of first-degree murder and was transferred to the Manatee County jail; he refused to attend a pre-trial detention hearing scheduled for July 12, 2024. Authorities say the shooter has not yet been publicly identified and the investigation continues to seek additional suspects.

An $8,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest, including $3,000 from Crime Stoppers and $5,000 from the Gold Star Club of Manatee County; anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers or given to Detective Brian Sands. If anyone has information about Dwight Sutton’s killing, please share it with investigators.