Police said Kirby Alan Smith was arrested after weeks of interviews, warrants and subpoenas.
CLERMONT, Fla. — A Clermont man was arrested Saturday on a first-degree murder charge in the May 20 shooting death of a man who had been staying at his Linton Court home, police said.
Kirby Alan Smith, 33, was taken into custody at 1130 Linton Court, Unit A, the same address where officers found 47-year-old Michael Rodriguez dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Clermont police said the arrest followed a coordinated investigation with the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Police said officers first responded to the home on May 20 after reports of gunfire. Rodriguez was found inside the residence and pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said Smith was detained and interviewed that night. He told detectives he acted in self-defense after a verbal argument with Rodriguez earlier in the day, police said.
At the time, detectives said they did not have enough evidence to disprove Smith’s account, and he was released while the investigation continued. Police later said detectives conducted more interviews, served search warrants and issued subpoenas. Investigators also recovered what they believe was the gun used in the shooting.
Police said Rodriguez was a close associate of Smith and had been living at the Linton Court residence for several weeks before the shooting. Authorities have not released a detailed motive. They also have not said what evidence led them to seek the murder warrant, only that the full investigation gave them probable cause.
The Mid-Florida SWAT Team assisted Clermont police in Saturday’s arrest. Police said the operation was completed without incident, and Smith was transported to the Lake County Jail for processing. Jail records cited by local reports showed Smith being held without bond after his arrest.
The case now moves into the court system, where prosecutors will decide how to proceed on the first-degree murder charge. Police said their work included coordination with the State Attorney’s Office before the warrant was obtained.
Author note: Last updated June 15, 2026.