TAMPA -- A Tampa man is facing murder charges in connection with the death of a man whose body was found behind a Tampa gas station.
Brandon D. Jones, 27, was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder and robbery.
Detectives said Jones was at the BP gas station on Fletcher Avenue at 10:15 p.m. when he confronted Huayvez Gomez-Mejia, 25, and punched him in the side of the head.
According to reports, Jones was trying to knock Gomez-Mejia unconscious so he could steal his money and buy a pack of cigarettes.
Gomez-Mejia fell to the ground, and Jones took $8 and a cell phone from his pockets, deputies said.
Gomez-Mejia's body was found about 45 minutes later by a store clerk. The clerk called the sheriff's office to report a man lying on the ground, and when deputies arrived, they discovered that he was dead.
The autopsy found Gomez-Mejia died due to blunt force trauma to the head and ruled his death a homicide.
Jones was arrested at his Tampa home without incident. Deputies said he admitted to hitting Gomez-Mejia and taking his belongings.
Jones was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, where is being held with no bond
Brandon D. Jones, 27, was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder and robbery.
Detectives said Jones was at the BP gas station on Fletcher Avenue at 10:15 p.m. when he confronted Huayvez Gomez-Mejia, 25, and punched him in the side of the head.
According to reports, Jones was trying to knock Gomez-Mejia unconscious so he could steal his money and buy a pack of cigarettes.
Gomez-Mejia fell to the ground, and Jones took $8 and a cell phone from his pockets, deputies said.
Gomez-Mejia's body was found about 45 minutes later by a store clerk. The clerk called the sheriff's office to report a man lying on the ground, and when deputies arrived, they discovered that he was dead.
The autopsy found Gomez-Mejia died due to blunt force trauma to the head and ruled his death a homicide.
Jones was arrested at his Tampa home without incident. Deputies said he admitted to hitting Gomez-Mejia and taking his belongings.
Jones was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, where is being held with no bond
