Investigators say Michael Rodriguez had been staying at Kirby Alan Smith’s Linton Court home before the deadly shooting.
CLERMONT, Fla. — A Clermont man who said he shot a friend in self-defense is now accused of first-degree murder after police said new evidence changed the course of the investigation.
Kirby Alan Smith, 33, was arrested Saturday at his home on Linton Court in the death of Michael Rodriguez, 47. Police said Rodriguez had been living there for several weeks before he was shot on May 20. Smith was first questioned and released, then arrested after detectives obtained a warrant.
Officers went to 1130 Linton Court, Unit A, after reports of gunfire and found Rodriguez inside the residence with multiple gunshot wounds. He died at the scene. Police said Smith did not deny the shooting and told dispatchers, “I shot my friend.” Investigators said he later told detectives the shooting happened after a verbal argument with Rodriguez earlier in the day.
Police said detectives did not make an immediate arrest because they had not yet found enough evidence to contradict Smith’s self-defense claim. The department said the investigation later included interviews, search warrants, subpoenas and forensic work. Investigators also recovered an AR-style pistol they believe was used in the shooting.
Officials have not released every detail behind the first-degree murder charge. Police said investigators looked at possible disputes involving money and a worsening relationship between the two men. They also said there were no eyewitnesses to the shooting, leaving detectives to build the case through statements, physical evidence and records.
The arrest was carried out with help from the Mid-Florida SWAT Team. Police said Smith was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Lake County Jail. A police spokesman said officers used added caution because the case involved a person who had acknowledged a fatal shooting.
The State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit worked with Clermont detectives before the arrest warrant was obtained. Smith faces a first-degree murder charge, and police said the investigation remains active. Court dates and charging decisions beyond the arrest warrant were not immediately detailed by officials.
Neighbors told local reporters they were surprised to see law enforcement return to the home weeks after the shooting. Police said the arrest marked a major step in the case, but key questions about the final moments before Rodriguez was killed remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Author note: Last updated June 16, 2026.