A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Friday's murder of a man at a Plant City gas station.
Xavier Quesean Smith has been charged with first-degree murder and robbery.
According to Plant City police, Smith attempted to rob 67-year-old Michael Joseph Beson at a Mobil gas station at 2010 North Wheeler Street Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Beson, of Standish, Michigan, was fueling his vehicle at the time of the robbery attempt.
Officers said they received a 911 call from the gas station. When they arrived they found Beson with trauma to his upper body. Beson died a short time later.
On Sunday just before 8 p.m., in an unrelated call about gunshots in a nearby neighborhood, officers located Smith based on a description provided by witnesses to the gas station robbery.
A devoted father and fisherman
Photo courtesy of the Beson family
The Beson family describe their beloved father and grandpa as a laid back family man, and a man of integrity.
Beson loved to fish, and even had a favorite saying: “A bad day fishing is a good day.” Lately, he treated every day like a gift after he was diagnosed with cancer.
His daughter says Beson had a goal to live five years after the diagnosis. The family figured he would beat the cancer.
Now, they say they feel cheated.
Family: "Not the Xavier we know"
Officials said at the time they located him, Smith had an outstanding warrant for violation of probation and a stolen handgun.
Smith's family says it's not the Xavier they know.
Latisha Jones, Smith’s aunt, says she saw him five minutes before he headed to the gas station. Jones also says her Smith has a developmental disability, and the mental capacity of a 12 year old.
Smith was transported to Orient Road Jail in Tampa.