Clermont police call shooting a premeditated killing; victim's roommate arrested
Clermont police call shooting a premeditated killing
A Clermont man has been arrested and charged with premeditated murder in a deadly shooting last month.
CLERMONT, Fla. - A man who told police he acted in self-defense during a deadly shooting last month has been arrested on a premeditated murder charge, Clermont police said.
Kirby Alan Smith, 33, was taken into custody over the weekend for his alleged role in the May 20 shooting that resulted in the death of his 47-year-old roommate, Michael Rodriguez.
The backstory:
Officers with the Clermont Police Department responded to the 1100 block of Linton Court around 10:22 a.m., May 20, after reports of gunfire inside the residence.
Police made contact with two men who lived in the home – now confirmed to be Smith and Rodriguez – but Rodriguez, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, died at the scene, the department said.
Investigators said Smith initially claimed the shooting was justified, but police later determined the statement was false.
Police said the investigation uncovered possible disputes involving money and a deteriorating relationship between the two men.
Suspected murder weapon found
The suspected murder weapon – an AR-style pistol – was found and recovered from the scene, police said.
What we know:
In a police interview following the shooting, Smith claimed he acted in self-defense after an argument with Rodriguez, a June 13 news release said. At that time, investigators hadn't yet identified witnesses or evidence to contradict Smith's claims, so he was released pending further investigation, the department said.
After an investigation with numerous interviews, multiple search warrants, several subpoenas and working with the state attorney's office to pursue all leads and forensic evidence, detectives obtained a warrant to arrest Smith on a first-degree murder charge.
Smith was transported to the Lake County Jail without incident, police said.
A home on Linton Court in Clermont where at May 20, 2026 shooting took place.
What we don't know:
Though Smith told police he had an argument with Rodriguez before he died, police haven't confirmed what exactly led to the shooting.
What's next:
The case remains under investigation.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from the City of Clermont.