Florida Today
March 9, 2015
The investigation into a 2007 Rockledge homicide ended Monday with charges for a man already in prison after detectives found a witness willing to testify.
Elated family members of John Clifton Jr., met with detectives and shared the news about the arrest of Tamond Cole, an inmate held on unrelated charges at the medium security Franklin Correctional Institute south of Tallahassee. The Rockledge Police Department charged Cole with second-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 1, 2007 shooting death of Clifton, the owner of a landscaping business. He was 36.
“Finally,” said Cathy Clifton, choking back emotions about the arrest in an interview with FLORIDA TODAY. “My son was a very caring person, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for you. I’m happy now with the charges but I’ll be even happier when they get every one of the murderers. There are more to get,” said Clifton, who said she cradled her son moments after he was shot. “I saw them do it, they did it in front of me. I saw the car sitting out front,” she said. “My son was looking right at me and they shot him.”