On 03-25-20 just before 6 p.m., Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Bluestone Avenue in Spring Hill regarding a Shooting. Several different callers advised 9-1-1 operators a man had been shot multiple times in front of a residence.
Deputies arrived on scene minutes later and located a male victim in the front yard with multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim was transported to a local hospital by Hernando County Fire Rescue. Just after 6:30 p.m., physicians pronounced the victim deceased.
Preliminary investigation revealed the victim and his wife moved into the residence on Bluestone Avenue approximately two weeks ago. The suspect reportedly rented a room from them during this time. On 03-24-20, the victim asked the suspect to move out over an issue that arose between them. The suspect agreed to move out and left, temporarily.
On 03-25-20, sometime after 5 p.m., the suspect arrived back at the residence and began moving his belongings out. The suspect asked the victim’s wife when the victim would be home. The wife said she did not know. The suspect apparently waited outside.
At approximately 5:40 p.m., the victim arrived home. The victim’s wife, who was inside the residence, heard the two males arguing outside. She went outside in an attempt to calm things down.
When the victim’s wife got outside, she observed her husband put his hands up and begin walking toward their residence (backing away from the suspect). At that time she heard several gunshots and observed her husband fall, face first, to the ground.
The suspect then got onto his white motorcycle and fled the scene.
Several witnesses who were present, or very close by, have positively identified the suspect.
The suspect is identified as Antonio Rafel Rivera. Rivera’s description is as follows:
Hispanic/Male
DOB/12-19-92 (27 YOA)
Height/5′ 8″
Weight/135
Hair/Black – Long in Dreadlocks
Eyes/Brown
Facial Hair/Mustache and Beard
Tattoos
o Neck – Dove
o L Chest – Nancy
o R Chest – Scroll w/Words
o Entire Chest and Neck Covered w/Tattoos
o Tattoo on L Hand.
Rivera should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on this case or the whereabouts of Antonio Rafel Rivera is asked to contact Detective Chris Kraft at 352-754-6830.
Please call 9-1-1 to report sightings.
