Victim died hours after incident, Police Department reports
A 66-year-old Sarasota man has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm — a third-degree felony — in connection with an Aug. 3 incident on the John Ringling Causeway, the Sarasota Police Department has reported.
As of the afternoon of Aug. 7, Richard Jay Minor remained without bond in the Sarasota County Jail, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division records showed.
A Sarasota News Leader check of 12th Judicial Circuit Court records on Aug. 7 found that a judge had ordered that Minor be held in pretrial detention “pending final hearing.” The docket classified the order as “Protected,” meaning it was not available for public review.
Minor’s arraignment was scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sept. 13, the docket also noted.
The Corrections Division document listed Minor’s address as that of the Resurrection House on Kumquat Court in Sarasota, a facility that provides services for homeless individuals.
The initial Police Department advisory, released at 3:26 p.m. on Aug. 3, said that Sarasota Police officers were “investigating a shooting that took place near the 900 block of John Ringling Causeway shortly after 2:30 p.m.” that day.
The advisory added, “An adult victim is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries as a result of the incident.” It also pointed out, “All involved parties are on the scene and are cooperating with the investigation. The public is not in any danger.”
The address the Police Department provided appears to reference the Ernest “Doc” and Eloise Werlin Park in Sarasota. The City of Sarasota’s Parks and Recreation Department says that facility is located “on the eastern base of the John Ringling Causeway Bridge adjacent to Hart’s Landing. Park includes a playground, walking trails, fabric shade structures, Hart’s Landing (bait shop), gazebo, Tony Saprito Fishing Pier, benches and allows leashed pets.”
At 5:45 p.m. on Aug. 3, another Police Department advisory said, “This incident is now being investigated as a homicide as the victim died from injuries sustained in the shooting. One person is in custody. The investigation is ongoing.”
Then at 6:22 p.m. on Aug. 3, the Police Department released yet another advisory, emphasizing, “The individual in custody has not been arrested, or charged. The investigation into this shooting continues and no further information will be shared at this time.”
Finally, at 5:32 a.m. on Aug. 4, the Police Department announced that Minor had been “arrested in connection with the deadly shooting near Hart’s Landing” and that he was being transported to the jail.
In accord with standard practices, the Police Department requested the public’s help with the investigation. “If you have any information, you are asked to call our non-emergency number at 941-316-1199,” the agency wrote in its releases. “Or, if you prefer, leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or going online to www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.