TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man charged in a fatal stabbing at an apartment complex for homeless veterans back in December 2017 has been sentenced.
Thomas Bullock, 63, pled guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in the Florida Department of Corrections on Thursday.
According to arrest documents, the incident happened around 5:15 p.m. on December 2, 2017 at 1602 Stuckey Avenue, the site of Big Bend Homeless Coalition's Home Front apartment complex for formerly homeless veterans.
When police arrived, they found Bullock at the complex with blood all over his hands. Bullock tried to run inside an apartment behind him, but was tased and detained by officers.
Documents say that once they entered the apartment Bullock tried to run in, they immediately noticed a man, identified as Joseph Burrelli, lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
They say two kitchen knives were next to the body along with evidence supporting the fact that Bullock had stabbed Burrelli multiple times, leading to his death.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man has been charged in a suspicious death at an apartment complex for homeless veterans.
Thomas Bullock, 63, was arrested over the weekend for the stabbing death of Joseph Burrelli.
According to arrest documents, the incident happened around 5:15 p.m. Saturday at 1602 Stuckey Avenue, the site of Big Bend Homeless Coalition's Home Front apartment complex for formerly homeless veterans.
Police say they got a call from the CDA about a man at Homefront apartments who had blood all over his hands.
When officers arrived, they found Bullock and told him to surrender. He ignored officer's commands and tried to run inside an apartment behind him. Eventually, they were able to detain him after tasing him.
Documents say that once they entered the apartment, they immediately noticed a man lying on the floor in a pool of blood. They say two kitchen knives were next to the body.
The officers gave the victim medical attention, but the victim died from their injuries. The victim has been identified as Joseph Burrelli.
Based on an investigation, police found evidence supporting the fact that Bullock had stabbed Burrelli multiple times, leading to his death.
He has been charged with premeditated murder.
WTXL spoke with neighbors about how they're feeling after finding out the details of the gruesome crime.
"It feels a little scary, but as long as we got Jesus and stay prayed up, then everything will be alright," said Cassandra Black. "But still, watch your surrounding areas."
Officers say a death like this effects the whole community.
"This is just a terrible tragedy that affects all of us. It doesn't only affect the family or the suspect's family," said Officer David Northway with the Tallahassee Police Department. "We have to remember there are police officers that are affected by this and there's neighbors that are affected by it."
There's no word yet on a motive to the crime.
