Deputies say a 38-year-old man opened fire during a fight on Van Buren Avenue.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — A Port Charlotte tenant was arrested Wednesday after deputies say he shot and killed his landlord during a fight inside a home on Van Buren Avenue early Wednesday afternoon. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said the man was detained at the scene and booked on a second-degree murder charge.
Authorities say the case is in the early stages but centers on a physical struggle that escalated into gunfire shortly before 2 p.m. Investigators identified the tenant as Jordan Patrick Ruddy, 38. Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit interviewed witnesses and collected physical evidence at the single-story home, which sits in a residential stretch near Blaser Street. The sheriff’s office said all parties were accounted for and there was no wider threat to the neighborhood. Ruddy remained in the Charlotte County Jail as detectives processed the scene and prepared arrest paperwork.
Deputies were called at about 1:39 p.m. to the 23000 block of Van Buren Avenue for reports of a shooting. They found a landlord fatally wounded inside the residence shared with the tenant, according to the sheriff’s office. Detectives determined the pair had been in a physical altercation when shots were fired. Sheriff Bill Prummell said the case reflects “behavior that has violently cost someone their life,” adding that his thoughts were with the victim’s family. Neighbors told reporters they saw patrol cars rush in and a mobile command unit set up as investigators canvassed the street and worked into the night.
Investigators identified Ruddy by full name and date of birth and said he was taken into custody at the home. In addition to second-degree murder, deputies booked him on possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and failure to register as a felon. Detectives noted multiple spent casings and other evidence inside the house. Officials did not immediately release the landlord’s name pending next-of-kin notification. The sheriff’s office said statements from neighbors would be included in the case file. A preliminary timeline places the call for help at 1:39 p.m., the street closure by 3 p.m., and a continued overnight scene watch as forensics teams photographed rooms and collected items.
Records show the investigation began as a death inquiry before shifting to a homicide case once detectives completed initial interviews and reviewed evidence. The home sits on a block where residents reported prior disputes at the address in recent weeks. The sheriff’s office confirmed prior calls to the area but did not detail their outcomes. Florida law outlines several potential next steps in a homicide case, including a formal filing decision by the State Attorney’s Office and presentation of the case to a grand jury if needed. Prosecutors typically review evidence logs, autopsy findings, photographs, and witness statements before setting charges.
Ruddy was being held without bond Thursday pending a first appearance. A judge is expected to address probable cause, counsel, and any future no-contact orders related to the landlord’s family. Detectives will await autopsy results from the medical examiner and continue to seek video from nearby doorbells to confirm the sequence of events. Officials said they plan to release additional records as they are cleared for public disclosure under Florida law. Any future hearings would be scheduled at the Charlotte County Justice Center in Punta Gorda, with filing deadlines in the coming days.
On the block, neighbors described a heavy response of marked units, forensic vans, and a mobile command post. Lexus Taylor, who lives nearby, said a man sought help after the shooting and appeared calm, which unsettled residents. “At first you just want to help, then the story keeps changing and you realize something is wrong,” Taylor said. Others said deputies went door to door asking about prior disturbances and whether anyone had heard yelling earlier in the day. Several residents reported hearing sirens and seeing crime scene tape stretching across the corner where the street narrows.
The sheriff’s office said the scene was cleared overnight and the roadway reopened. Ruddy remains jailed as detectives finalize reports and wait for autopsy findings expected this week. A court date will be set after prosecutors review the arrest report and evidence logs.
Author note: Last updated January 12, 2026.