19-241 Detectives Arrest Three Men For First Degree Murder Following A Shooting That Killed A Man In Oldsmar
Murder Investigation
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Robbery & Homicide Unit
Support Services Bureau
- Forensic Science Division
James William Knoll Jr. (Victim- Deceased)
DOB: 03/17/1984
Address: 3740 Shore Boulevard, Oldsmar
Kleatis D. Webb Jr. (Arrested)
DOB: 05/26/1982
Address: 10572 101st Avenue, Largo
Charges: One count of First Degree Murder
Eric Pasquale Melucci (Arrested)
DOB: 06/17/1985
Address: 12320 129th Street, Largo
Charges: One count of First Degree Murder and a warrant for Possession of Cocaine.
Jason James Botes (Arrested)
DOB: 04/01/1987
Address: 11511 113th Avenue, Unit 8D, Largo
Charges: One count of First Degree Murder and one count of Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.
What:
Detectives assigned to the Robbery & Homicide Unit have arrested three men for first degree murder following a shooting that killed a man in Oldsmar.
When:
Deputies responded to an armed person call at about 12:02 a.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2019.
Where:
The incident occurred at a private residence located at 3740 Shore Boulevard in Oldsmar.
Why/How:
Detectives assigned to the Robbery & Homicide Unit have arrested three men for first degree murder following a shooting that killed a man in Oldsmar.
According to detectives, at about 12:02 a.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2019, deputies were called to a residence located at 3740 Shore Boulevard in Oldsmar, for an armed person.
When deputies arrived, they located the victim, 35-year-old James Knoll Jr., inside his residence suffering from a gunshot wound to his head.
Deputies pronounced Knoll deceased at the scene.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that two unidentified subjects wearing masks, dressed in all black, and carrying rifles attempted to commit a home invasion at the residence. During the robbery attempt, Knoll was shot by one of the armed subjects.
Detectives say the subjects fled the scene in a vehicle after the shooting.
After an extensive investigation that lasted more than two weeks, detectives identified 37-year-old Kleatis Webb Jr., 34-year-old Eric Melucci, and 32-year-old Jason Botes as suspects in the shooting.
Through various investigative techniques, detectives’ confirmed that on August 22, 2019, Webb, Melucci, and Botes drove to Knoll’s residence with the intent to commit a home invasion robbery. The men put on masks, wore dark clothing, gloves, and armed themselves with AR-15 styled .223 caliber rifles.
During the robbery attempt, a struggle ensued and Knoll was shot through the front door of his residence. The suspects then fled the scene in a Ford F-150 truck.
Detectives say Botes knew the victim and the robbery attempt was narcotics related.
Detectives arrested Webb on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Melucci and Botes were arrested on Friday, September 6, 2019.
Webb was charged with one count of First Degree Murder. Melucci was charged with one count of First Degree Murder and a warrant for Possession of Cocaine. Botes was charged with one count of First Degree Murder and one count of Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.
All three subjects were transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
Next of kin has been notified.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Creaser in the Robbery & Homicide Unit at (727) 582-5803.
The investigation continues.
Kleatis D. Webb Jr. (Arrested)
Eric Pasquale Melucci (Arrested)
Jason James Botes (Arrested)
