Suspect in Georgia Clerk Murder Cleared in Lake City Killing

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The man facing charges for the murder of a store clerk in Georgia has been cleared in the murder of a Lake City clerk. Columbia County investigators say after questioning 20-year-old Daymon Heard in Jacksonville, they believe Linda Raulerson's killer is still on the loose.

Heard waived extradition in Duval County court this week and is now back in Georgia. He faces charges in the murder of a clerk in Lake Park, Georgia.

The Lowndes County Sheriff says one thing that cleared Heard in the Lake City case is the murder weapon.

"You had two different caliber weapons and that wouldn't rule it out by any mean but the robbers mannerisms were quite different, he tried to cover his face and after enhancement--his build is different. We can do voice analysis if we come down to that but we pretty much ruled that out. Of course, this young man has been questioned, did he do Lake City. He adamantly denies it and like I said he hasn't denied anything that he did up here so that carries credibility too," Sheriff Ashley Paulk said in a Tuesday news conference.

The shooting in Lake Park happened Wednesday afternoon, July 30 at a Triangle Foods store on Highway 41.

Police believe Daymon Heard is the man who fired four shots at the clerk, took money from the register and left.

According to investigators, he came back a few seconds later, went around the counter and stepped over the clerk to take cigarettes.

A customer who walked in about 15 minutes later called 911. The clerk died at South Georgia Medical Center.

The clerk has now been identified as 48 year-old Jay Patel.

He leaves behind a wife and two children.

Investigators say the killing was captured on store surveillance cameras and the shooter wasn't wearing a mask.

"He was very bold, very calm. Calm, cool and collected. He walked in, put a Pepsi on the counter, pulled a gun from his pants and shot the man. The clerk did absolutely nothing. He held his hands up and he was shot for no reason. This was senseless. It was absolutely senseless," says Capt. JD Yeager of the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office.

Heard's friends and family identified him to investigators.

He's charged with murder, burglary, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in Georgia.

JSO investigators arrested Heard at his girlfriend's house the day after the murder in Lake Park. He faces drug charges in Duval County.

Heard's friends who drove him to Jacksonville are also being questioned to see if they knew he was a suspect in the murder of a clerk in Georgia. Detectives tell us charges are pending.

The murder in Lake Park happened about fifty miles up the interstate from Lake City where 56-year-old Linda Raulerson was shot July 22.

Columbia County Sheriff Bill Gootee says the killer walked in the Joy America food store and shot Linda Raulerson once.

She handed over the money from the cash register before the killer fatally shot her in the head.

"She did everything the robber demanded and he shot her in cold blood," said Sheriff Gootee.

"He is considered armed and extremely dangerous."

The killer is described as a black man, 5'10"-6'2" tall with an average build.

He wore a dark-hooded sweatshirt and a baseball style cap during the murder.

He drove off in a white four door 1993-1995 Buick Regal with black trim.

If you have information that can help detectives, call our partner First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.

You'll remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.

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