Man Charged With Murder After Brazen Winter Haven Shootings

WINTER HAVEN, FL — Debonaire Antoine McIntosh, an aspiring DJ with a criminal past, allegedly told Winter Haven police that he saw officers talking to witnesses after the first of two brazen daylight shootings in the city late Wednesday morning. That's when McIntosh recalled running into a promoter whom he allegedly threatened on Facebook only a week earlier, according to court documents.

Moments later, Winter Haven police officers heard five gunshots ring out from a .38 caliber stainless steel, snub nose, five-shot revolver. They saw the promoter, 30-year-old Cody Hunt, running from behind a church clutching his throat.

Court documents said Hunt had "arterial blood spurting from a neck injury." Hunt later died at Lakeland Regional Health from his injuries.

Now, McIntosh is facing a charge of first-degree murder in connection with Hunt's slaying after being taken into custody Wednesday after he was spotted allegedly running from the scene. Brown said McIntosh was not charged with the earlier shooting that occurred only blocks away at 11:36 a.m. though the investigation was continuing.

Court documents said the handgun was found by a K-9 about 300 feet away from where McIntosh was taken into custody in the 1700 block of Avenue R NE. McIntosh allegedly had an empty gun holster in his right shorts' pocket.

"McIntosh claimed Hunt yelled at him saying, "Are we gonna fight it out or shoot it out," explained Jamie Brown of the Winter Haven Police Department on Thursday.

"McIntosh said as he turned around, he saw Hunt's hands in his pockets, but in the split second, he aimed and shot at Hunt multiple times, though he lost count of how many shots were fired," Brown said.

A second gunshot victim, identified as 41 year-old Rorey Copeland, was shot moments before Hunt around 11:36 a.m. in the 200 block of Palmetto Avenue NW.

"At this point in time we do not know if the first victim, Rorey Copeland, was the intended target or if that was a random shot that hit him," acknowledged Winter Haven Police Chief Charles Bird on Wednesday.

Copeland suffered a gunshot wound to the side of his torso, according to Bird. "It was not life-threatening injuries but he was transported to Lakeland for those injuries."

Court documents said that an associate of McIntosh told police that Hunt made disparaging remarks about McIntosh's performance.