Flagler County Sheriff’s Office detectives have made an arrest in this morning’s homicide on Blare Drive in Palm Coast.
FCSO deputies responded around 5:50am on August 14, 2023, to a reported shooting inside a residence on Blare Drive. FCSO Communications had received two 9-1-1 calls from the residence, one from the victim’s mother and one from 85-year-old Charles Kidd Jr., who told the Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Operator he had just shot a man inside the home. Upon arrival, deputies surrounded the residence as the 9-1-1 Operator instructed Kidd Jr. to come outside with his hands up, which he did.
Kidd Jr. was secured, and deputies then entered the residence where they located a deceased male victim who was later identified as 36-year-old Mark Ruschmeier in the hallway. The victim resided in the Blare Drive residence with Kidd Jr. and his mother. Kidd Jr. was not the biological father of the victim.
Kidd Jr. was transported to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center to be interviewed and was cooperative throughout the investigation. Detectives determined that there had been an argument in the home that resulted in Kidd Jr. shooting the victim.
Following interviews by the FCSO Major Case Unit and the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Investigative Unit, an arrest warrant was obtained, and Kidd Jr. was arrested for Second-Degree Murder and is currently in the process of being booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
“This is an unfortunate situation for all,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our detectives have worked tirelessly since early this morning to determine what happened, and an arrest was made in less than 12 hours.”
Original Release:
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning homicide on Blare Drive in Palm Coast.
FCSO deputies responded around 5:50am on August 14, 2023, to a reported shooting inside a residence on Blare Drive. A 36-year-old male was pronounced deceased on scene by paramedics. The victim and the suspect were known to each other and there are no outstanding suspects. There is no threat to the general public.
Detectives from the FCSO Major Case Unit and Crime Scene Investigators are on scene and investigating. Blare Drive is closed between Blaine Drive and Black Alder Drive as detectives continue their investigation.
“Our prayers go out to the family and friends of the victim,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our detectives are working hard to determine what happened leading up to this incident. There is no threat to the community as this is a domestic-related incident contained to one residence.”
Additional updates will be provided when available as this is an active investigation.
