Four suspects have been charged with the murder of an 82-year-old Clearwater retiree.
Gaetano Spera, 19, Jonathan Nelson, 18, Alex Richardson, 27, and Excel Lawson, 19 are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Allen Usher.
Investigators believe on the night of January 9th the men drove from Hernando County where they’re from to Usher’s mobile home in Clearwater on U.S. 19.
Police say they stole pills and money and when Usher intervened, officers say they shot and killed him in his bed. Police believe Usher was targeted.
Neighbors say they’re glad the suspects are behind bars.
“I’m just so thankful because it was so scary, nobody deserves that,” said Jean Wirtz, neighbor.
The Clearwater Police Department also read a statement from Usher’s family, who live out of state.
“On behalf of our family, we would like to thank the Clearwater Police Department as well as the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office for their tireless efforts to apprehend the parties involved in this heinous crime. We truly appreciate all of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in this case. The grief we feel is overwhelming. Words cannot begin to express the extent of our anger and sorrow at losing our dad and grandfather to such a violent crime. We hope that these arrests will ensure no other families have to suffer similar tragedies."
Police say two of the suspects were already in jail. The other two were arrested Thursday. Investigators say it’s a first-degree murder charge because the suspects planned to shoot Usher if he got in the way.
Usher was a retired construction worker from New York.
There’s still more information to be released related to the motive and who actually fired the weapon.