ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – Four men were arrested Friday in connection with the death of an 81-year-old man whose body was found inside an Altamonte Springs apartment.
Police said Davion Shakeem Stewart, 19; Ommar Antonio Valdez, 18; Shuqui Charles-Emmanuel Gonsalves, 18; and Jay Vikrant Mehta, 21, face charges of murder, theft and burglary after Jackie Allen Hammer was found dead at his home on Vineridge Run.
According to Altamonte Springs police, the group of four was pulled over late Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, and the tag of the vehicle they were driving was not assigned to the car.
Police said all four men appeared nervous, and there was a smell of bleach coming from the car.
Officers requested a well-being check on the owner of the vehicle, and Hammer was found dead inside his Altamone Springs home, police said. Hammer appeared to have been beaten, and his neck was cut, police said.
Police said there was also a stench of bleach in the home.
Altamonte Springs police said an investigation revealed that Stewart, who lived in the same complex, broke into Hammer’s apartment but was unaware that Hammer was home.
Police said Stewart killed Hammer and left in his car.
Stewart returned to the home with Valdez, Gonsalves and Mehta, and they attempted to clean the crime scene and destroy any evidence, according to police.
The group then traveled to Fort Lauderdale where they were apprehended during the traffic stop, police said.
All four men are being held in the Broward County Jail and are awaiting extradition back to Seminole County.