PCSO Detectives Investigating Shooting Death of Fort Meade
Man – Suspect In Custody
Around 1:20 p.m. on Friday, February
23, 2018, PCSO received a 9-1-1 call in reference to a person shot at 10
SW MLK Blvd in Fort Meade (cross street Charleston Avenue). When first
responders arrived they found 30-year-old Charles McGhee (11/19/87) of
Fort Meade with gunshot wounds. He was transported to Bartow Regional Medical
Center, where he was pronounced deceased.
Witnesses reported
the shooter was 48-year-old Jimmy Lee Hester (DOB 12/17/69) of Wauchula.
Hester arrived at the PCSO Fort Meade Sheriff’s Station to turn himself
in shortly after the shooting occurred. Hester was taken to the PCSO Sheriff’s
Operations Center to be interviewed by Homicide detectives.
This
evening, Hester is being booked into the Polk County Jail and being charged
with Manslaughter, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Tampering
With Evidence. An autopsy will be conducted at a later date.
Hester and McGhee were known to each other and had a dispute earlier
in the week, which likely led to today’s altercation. Both have extensive
criminal histories:
“Here’s another example of how dealing
in drugs, or associating with those who deal in drugs, is violent business.
Luckily this suspect went to jail shortly after killing a man in broad
daylight, before he hurt anyone else.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
McGhee’s criminal history:
01/18/2018 – PCSO – Poss
Marijuana WITS, Poss Marijuana over 20 grams, Poss Drug Paraphernalia,
Keep Structure/Vehicle for Drugs
11/27/2014 – PCSO – Battery
DV
06/30/2012 – Wauchula PD – Operate Motor Vehicle
10/21/2011 – Wauchula PD – Agg Assault with Deadly Weapon, Criminal
Mischief
09/01/2007 – FMPD – Operate Motor Vehicle w/o Valid
DL
Hester’s criminal history:
01/06/2011
– BPD – Probation Violation (2 counts)
09/10/2010 – PCSO –
Poss Drugs, Poss Opiates, Poss Marijuana, Poss Drug Parapernalia, Probation
Violation (3 counts)
07/09/2009 – PCSO – Agg Battery (DV)
06/23/2009 – PCSO – DWLSR, Poss Firearm During Commission of Felony,
Poss Weapon/Ammo by Convicted Felon, Keep Structure for Drug Activity,
Poss Meth WIT Sell, Manufacture Drugs Within 1000 ft of Church/School,
Felony Poss Marijuana, Poss Drug Paraphernalia
06/14/2009 –
PCSO – Battery (2 counts)
10/25/2007 – FMPD – Battery
06/17/2006 – FMPD – DWLSR
06/04/2006 – FMPD – Agg Battery
04/06/2006 – PCSO – Battery DV
06/19/2005 – FMPD
– Battery, Resist LEO, Exposure of Sexual Organs
09/10/2004
– FMPD – Petit Larceny
11/19/2003 – FMPD – Shoplifting
01/05/2002 – PCSO – Probation Violation
03/23/2001 –
Hardee County SO – Battery DV
03/21/2001 – PCSO – Battery
03/32/2001 – PCSO – Battery
08/02/2000 – FMPD – DWLSR
05/16/1998 – PCSO – DWLSR, Poss Drugs WITS
11/17/1997
– PCSO – Petty Larceny, Trespassing
09/30/1997 – FMPD – Distribution
of Control Substance, DWLSR
08/01/1997 – BPD – Contempt -DWLSR
04/22/1997 – FMPD – Utter Forged Counterfeit Bill, Petit Theft,
Trespassing
10/17/1995 – PCSO – Shoplifting, Resist LEO
08/02/1991 – FMPD – Strong Armed Robbery
10/16/1990 –
FMPD – Agg Battery
