A timeline and a location anchor this case clearly. On the morning of December 18, 2024, at about 8:30 a.m., St. Petersburg police responded to a shooting near Kings Meat Market at 1345 34th Street South. Forty-two-year-old Deon Bell was found with a gunshot wound, went into the meat market seeking help, and was taken to Bayfront Health where he was pronounced dead.

An employee, Harvey Murphy, tried to keep Bell calm until emergency responders arrived. Police released an image of a person of interest last seen in the 1300 block of 34th Street South and say no arrests have been made; the motive is currently unclear. Detectives are asking anyone who recognizes the person of interest or has information about the shooting to contact the St. Petersburg Police at 727-893-7780 or text SPPD and a tip to TIP411.

If anyone saw activity near Kings Meat Market that morning or knows the identity of the person of interest, please come forward with what you know.