A 17-year-old boy from Florida has been taken into custody in connection with the murder of a man discovered deceased in an unoccupied lot in Tampa earlier this month.

Authorities reported that James McClendon, 34, was declared missing on December 9, according to Tampa Police. His vehicle was located abandoned, with a spent 9mm shell casing nearby.

Just two days later, on December 11, McClendon’s body was found in a lot approximately nine blocks away from where his vehicle had been left. The medical examiner confirmed that he had died from a gunshot wound.

“As the investigation progressed, detectives determined that McClendon had driven to a gas station in the 2900 block of N. 50th Street earlier that evening,” stated Tampa police. “There, he picked up a passenger,” who was later identified by police as the suspect.

The suspect was noted to be wearing “distinct clothing and bright blue footwear,” according to police. This led them to identify the teenager as the suspect and secure a search warrant for his residence, where they discovered a 9mm shell casing.

“We hope that this arrest will help the family and friends of James McClendon begin to heal as they cope with this tragic loss,” stated Tampa police Chief Lee Bercaw. “Our detectives worked diligently to ensure the individual responsible is brought to justice.”

The boy is being held at the Juvenile Assessment Center.