PCSO Homicide Unit Arrests Three Suspects in Homicide of Tyler Macklin

18-year-old Joseph Edward Gomes-Brandon, Jr., of Kings Pond Ave, Winter Haven; charged with one count First Degree Murder, one count Armed Robbery, one count Armed Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, and one count Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery. His criminal history includes previous arrests for grand theft, burglary, and VOP.

21-year-old Jonathan Felix of Avenue J NW, Winter Haven; charged with one count First Degree Murder, one count Armed Robbery, one count Armed Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, one count Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, one count Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, one county VOP. His criminal history includes serving four years in state prison (2010-2014) for armed robbery, battery on a LEO, and burglary.

20-year-old Dylan Kindred of 3rd Street SW, Winter Haven; charged with one count Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery. His criminal history includes a narcotics arrest in January 2016.

The following is an excerpt from their affidavits:

Around 11:05 p.m. on May 11, 2016, Law Enforcement and EMS were dispatched to a reported shooting at 1244 Tangerine Parkway NE, Winter Haven, FL.  Upon arrival, it was discovered a white male (later identified as Tyler Eugene Macklin, victim) had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.  An autopsy was later performed after which the victim’s death was determined to be a homicide.

During the ensuing investigation, Dylan Kindred was located and interviewed.  Kindred stated post-Miranda that he was driving throughout Winter Haven in his vehicle with two other suspects he knew as “Killa” and “Waxx,” who were positively identified as Jonathan Olin Felix and Joseph Edward Gomes-Brandon, Jr., during the evening hours of May 11, 2016.  While in the vehicle the three suspects discussed their mutually shared need to obtain an unspecified but large amount of currency in order to be able to “flash cash” while they were performing rap songs in a rap show scheduled on May 12, 2016, in Tampa.

The subjects stated they did not have enough money of their own to be able to flash and demonstrate their desired level of affluence so they decided to “hit a lick” or rob someone. Kindred stated he suggested they rob Tyler Macklin and indicated “he should be an easy lick.” Kindred stated he then drove his girlfriend’s car (blue Honda Civic) to the victim’s residence. While the subjects were traveling to the victim’s residence he saw Gomez-Brandon in possession of a 9 mm handgun. Kindred stated the suspects were only “supposed to steal cash and drugs” from the victim and not hurt him.    

Kindred parked the vehicle in front of a residence next to the victim’s residence and remained in the vehicle. The other two suspects (Felix and Gomes-Brandon) then forced entry into the victim’s residence by kicking the front door. Kindred stated shortly after he saw the suspects enter the residence he heard a gunshot and then saw the suspects running from the front of the residence.

Kindred stated the suspects entered the vehicle and he drove them away from the scene. Kindred stated that when the suspects entered the vehicle after the shooting, they were in possession of the victim’s wallet, $300.00 in US Currency, and a second firearm that was stolen from the victim during the commission of the home-invasion robbery.