Tyler Rashad Hopkins, 26, of Crystal River, Florida, was shot on February 20, 2020, in the Copeland Park neighborhood and later died at a local hospital. Deputies from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting; a witness took Tyler to the hospital where physicians pronounced him deceased.

Detectives Laborda and Ramos of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit led an immediate homicide investigation, interviewing witnesses and processing evidence from the scene. Investigators identified 26-year-old David Jerome Lemon Jr. of Crystal River as a person of interest and obtained probable cause on a separate weapons-related charge, then sought him on an arrest warrant when he left the area. Members of the Citrus County Tactical Impact Unit and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force later located and arrested Lemon on that warrant.

The case remained under active investigation as detectives continued to follow leads and review evidence. If anyone has information about Tyler, his movements that day, or the shooting, please come forward.