2 found shot to death in Bradenton apartment

MANATEE -- A man and a woman were found shot to death in a Bradenton apartment early Friday, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. No arrests have been made.

About 5:17 a.m., in response to a 911 call, deputies responded to a residence in the 5700 block of 11th Street East and found two people who appeared to have been shot and killed, according to a news release.

The sheriff's office said it appeared the victims had been targeted.

"This is not a random event," said sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow.

The victims were identified as Demetrius Robinson, 37, and his girlfriend, Florence Randall, 31. The couple lived at the residence,

Bristow said.

Bristow said a family member arrived at the triplex apartment after hearing there had been an issue at the residence. The family member discovered the bodies, he said.

Investigators are not sure exactly when Robinson and Randall were killed, but they believe it was earlier in the morning.

Investigators are interviewing some people, but no possible suspects have been identified. No information about a possible motive was released.

"Everything here is telling us that it was not random," Bristow said.

Although the sheriff's office said Robinson and Randall lived together as boyfriend and girlfriend, another woman -- said to be his wife -- and two children were involved in an incident in May, after which police arrested Robinson and charged him with a second-degree felony for domestic battery with a deadly weapon. According to the arrest report, Robinson hit a car carrying his wife and two children with his own car after a fight with his wife.

Randall has a record of misdemeanors, including battery, and traffic infractions within Manatee County.

Anyone with information can call the sheriff's office at 941-747-3011, ext. 2519, or Crimestoppers at 866-634-TIPS.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published January 1, 2016 at 11:07 PM with the headline "2 found shot to death in Bradenton apartment ."