On March 19, 2023, at approximately 7 p.m., Bradenton police officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 700 block of 17th Street Court East. Upon arrival, they found Dwight Sutton, Sr., a 56-year-old man, shot outside a home. Despite efforts by officers and paramedics to perform CPR, Sutton was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Sutton's murder was led by Bradenton Police Detective Brian Sands and the Manatee County Homicide Task Force.
Initially, police identified Michael Alonzo Phillips, 58, as a person of interest and sought to interview him regarding the incident. However, Phillips was not immediately identified as a suspect at that time.
As the investigation progressed, detectives determined that Phillips had orchestrated Sutton’s murder. On July 2, 2024, Phillips was arrested in Sarasota County for first-degree murder and was later transferred to the Manatee County jail. Phillips refused to attend a pre-trial detention hearing scheduled for July 12, 2024.
The case remains ongoing as authorities continue to investigate to identify additional suspects, including the shooter. An $8,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest, which includes $3,000 from Crime Stoppers and $5,000 from the Gold Star Club of Manatee County. The public is encouraged to submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers or contact Detective Brian Sands directly.
