JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A bloody fingerprint left behind on one the victim's belongings led to a murder arrest in a Christmas Eve shooting death, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Police say 19-year-old George Williams is charged with the second-degree murder of 23-year-old Harold Lee Woodard III. Detectives say Woodard was beaten and shot multiple times inside his Westside apartment off Timuquana Road.
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Investigators say Williams then fled on foot carrying some of the victim's property, including a .45-caliber handgun.
"While processing the scene, detectives found a bloody fingerprint on a shoebox inside the victim's bedroom," said Lt. Rob Schoonover.
The shoebox was submitted to the crime lab at Florida Department of Law Enforcement, where the blood on the shoe box matched the victim and the fingerprint was matched to Williams.
"The fingerprint was the break in the case. This was good detective work," Schoonover said.
A warrant was issued for Williams on Jan. 25. His family members attempted to convince the suspect to surrender, but Williams did not, police said.
According to the police report, Williams was located and taken in for questioning on Friday. After speaking with an attorney, Williams declined to answer questions. He was booked into jail that night.
Williams was ordered held without bail.