Lake Wales, Florida – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has announced the arrest of 37 yr old Lake Wales man, Marion Tyrone Burgess. According to FDLE Burgess is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, tampering with physical evidence, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to reports this all started back in 2019. In October of 2019 Burgess was accused of attempted murder after allegedly shooting a Winter Haven man, Dominque Harris, multiple times in the area of Dawn Heights Drive in Lakeland. According to information gathered, witness and the victims statements, Burgess shot Harris after they met at a location in Winter Haven and drove to the area in Lakeland. The two got out of the car and then Burgess shot him multiple times. They had known each other for about 3 or 4 months. The two were arguing according to the Harris. Luckily Harris escaped Burgess and was treated at a local hospital. This all happened just 5 months after Burgess was released from Florida State Prison serving a 15 year sentence for robbery with a weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer with violence, and battery on a law enforcement officer.
According to FDLE representative, Mark Brunell, Burgess tried to pursued Harris not to testify against him for attempted murder, multiple times. Fearing that Harris was going to be the reason he would be sent back to state prison, Burgess devised a “cold and calculated” plan to murder Harris.
On May 26, 2020, Harris’s body was found badly beaten and stabbed in an orange grove in Zolpho Springs.
Burgess had subsequently been arrested by Lake Wales Police for violation of his release pending the original attempted murder charge. He has been in jail Since 2020.
Now Burgess will stand trial the attempted murder and subsequent murder of Dominique Harris.
