Man accused of shooting 5 outside a Bradenton sports bar arrested in Georgia as search continues for 2nd man

BRADENTON, Fla. – A Manatee County man accused of opening fire outside a Bradenton sports bar on Black Friday during an argument has been arrested after deputies say he hopped on an Amtrack train and headed to Georgia following the shooting. 

Deputies say shortly before 1 a.m. on Nov. 29, Ronnie D. Morton III, 23, had gotten into an argument with a 25-year-old man and fired several shots in his direction, striking the victim several times. 

According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, other bullets hit four bystanders. Each victim had non-life-threatening injuries and was treated and released from area hospitals.

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A detective learned that Morton, who had eluded law enforcement for over a week, was traveling from Florida on an Amtrak train bound for North Carolina.

Investigators say Morton’s cellphone was pinging on railroad tracks just north of Jacksonville on the evening of December 7 and was heading into Georgia.

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Detectives worked with Amtrak Police and the Savannah Police Department to have Morton arrested at a train station in Savannah early Sunday morning.

Detectives say they are still working to identify another man who was in a car with Morton when he left the shooting scene on Nov. 29. 

Ronnie Morton III mugshot courtesy of the Savannah police Department. 

He is described as a Black male wearing a black and silver shirt with the number 77. 

Anyone with information is urged to call the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at (941) 747-3011 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward, contact Manatee County Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-TIPS or ManateeCrimeStoppers.com

Morton is charged with five counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, felony possession of a firearm, and armed robbery from a previous outstanding warrant out of Manatee County. 

He remains in the Chatham County Jail and will be extradited to Manatee County at a later date.

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