A 21-year-old man was arrested in connection with the death of his mother, a Jacksonville nurse shot Thursday night on San Servera Drive, on the Southside.
Deputies said Michael Joseph McPherson was spotted driving a black 2010 Toyota FJ5 Cruiser sport utility vehicle southbound on U.S. 1 at Mile Marker 94.2, in the Key Largo area.
Monroe County deputies were able to match the license plate number and description issued by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, according to a press release.
His mother, Stacey McPherson-Dillon, was shot early Wednesday night. She was alive when rescue crews arrived but died on the scene.
Jayne Parkinson lives two doors down from McPherson’s home. She says their neighbor tried CPR on McPherson.
“We could see there was police everywhere and screaming and wailing, it was awful,” Parkinson said.
She heard six gunshots before going outside and watching the scene. She says neighbors and relatives of Stacey McPherson-Dillon were devastated by what happened.
McPherson-Dillon worked with Jennifer Couty for 12 years at the Lower Keys Medical Center.
“She’s a strong woman, strong mother, there are not enough good things that I could say about her,” Couty said.
“I had to drive an hour and fifteen minutes to work…She would bring me into her home half of my work week so I didn’t have to drive so far getting off work. She was definitely part of my family,” Couty said.
Couty said McPherson cared for her two children and her two-stepchildren.
“Everything she did revolved around her kids, trying to provide for them and do the best she could,” Couty said.
The longtime nurse was working at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Wolfson issued a statement following McPherson’s death:
We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of our nurse, Stacey McPherson-Dillon. The entire Baptist Health family offers our thoughts and prayers to Stacey’s loved ones at this time.
To help team members cope with this sudden and tragic loss, we are providing them with the support of our chaplains and mental health providers.
Michael McPherson was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop, according to Monroe County deputies.
A firearm was found in the vehicle and the SUV was impounded by the sheriff’s office, deputies said.
McPherson also has a warrant for his arrest by the Key West Police Department for battery on a person 65-years-old or older with a $10,000 bail.