Knock at the door turns to murder in Lakeland

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - A knock at the front door led to a murder Monday, and Lakeland police want to find the gunman behind it.

A witness told police a man knocked on the front door of a home on Castle Way. When the door opened, the witness said, the man pointed a gun and demanded to see Johnathan Charles-Pierre, who came to the door with a firearm, but the man shot Charles-Pierre as soon as he appeared.

Officers were called to the home around 11 p.m. and found the body of 35-year-old Johnathan "Jay" Charles-Pierre with a gunshot wound to the chest.

A witness could only describe the suspected shooter as a black male.

Police said they think the suspected gunman took off, firing several more rounds before jumping into a green, four-door vehicle with a temporary tag, and possibly two other males inside.

Anyone with information about the shooter or who knows anything about the shooting is asked to call Detective Stacey Pough at 863-834-8978 or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477.