SANFORD, Fla. — A convicted felon believed to be connected to a double homicide on Halloween night in Sanford was on the run Friday after cutting off his GPS monitor and fleeing, police said.
Dante James was arrested Nov. 1 on drug and firearms charges, a day after the deadly shooting, but wasn’t identified as a person of interest until after he absconded, investigators said.
Police said a masked person entered a home on Hays Drive at about 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31 while two men and a woman were inside.
[ Gunman sought in fatal Sanford home invasion ]
The culprit opened fire, killing brothers Roland Deloatch, 41, and Joseph Smith, 27, police said.
Police still haven’t said what they think may have been the motive of the shooting.
Smith died at the scene and Deloatch was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital, where he died.
Authorities said the woman, who was a relative, was not injured.
Police believe that James cut off his GPS monitor sometimes Thursday and fled, possibly with his girlfriend, Shawbeta Ann Seal.
James and Seal were arrested following a traffic stop the day after the shootings.
Police found them with marijuana, and said James admitted he stored a gun at the home where the two men were shot.
The gun was later recovered from the house.
Police said the gun will be tested to see if it was involved in the shooting.
A hearing was scheduled for Friday to try to revoke James’ bond.
James was on supervised release at the time he fled, police said.
The two could be traveling in a gray 2004 Nissan Titan.
Anyone with information on the pair’s location is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.