Friend Accused Of Killing Mulberry Man Who Tried To Help Him Get Off Drugs: Deputies

MULBERRY, FL — A gunman who is accused of killing a part-time Mulberry minister Sunday then tried to kill himself, suffering a serious gunshot wound to his head, Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Cipriano Jimenez Toribio, 38, lived in a house on Bailey Road in Mulberry working as a roofer and a part-time minister, investigators said.

Toribio tried to help the shooting suspect, Edward Flores, 27, by praying with him about his drug addictions, according to police.

Toribio held religious services at the house he rented from Flores' mother, deputies said.

Flores' mother told authorities he had been staying with her while having drug problems. She told investigators her son had been drinking alcohol and appeared to be high when he left the house Sunday night before the fatal shooting.

A witness and Toribio stood in the kitchen Sunday night after they returned from a store, and noticed that all the circuit breakers in the house had been shut off, the police report said. Then Flores walked in the doorway of the back porch.

According to deputies, just before 9:16 p.m., Flores pointed a gun at them and demanded both men move to the backyard.

Flores asked, "What did you guys do?"

Toribio told him they had just returned from the store, and his cell phone rang. Detectives said he then took the victim's phone.

The witness told officers that Toribio told Flores he had no problems with him or his mother at that time. As the victim told him this, Flores is accused by police of shooting Toribio.

Following the shooting, Flores pointed the gun at the witness and said, "Tell me where you went and don't lie to me."

The witness said he told Flores that they went to the store, and then accused Flores of pointing the gun at Toribio and shooting again.

Less than an hour later, the K-9 until found Flores at an undisclosed location about a half-mile away. He was unconscious with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and had a gun with him, deputies said.

Sheriff Grady Judd said the victim and Flores had a friendship.

The victim was pronounced dead in his backyard when police arrived.

Flores was last reported hospitalized on life-support, medical staff said.