BRADENTON (FOX 13) - The Manatee County Sheriff's Office has arrested 20-year-old Larry Bernard Williams on 2 counts of murder and 1 count of arson in connection with an early morning fire that killed 2.
18-year-old Diamond Shelman and her 8-month old were killed in the fire. Williams was the father of the baby.
Deputies said a firefighter on his way to work spotted flames coming from an apartment at the Avalon Square Apartments on 14th Street West around 7 a.m.
Fire crews responded to the incident and discovered a woman and baby deceased inside the unit.
According to investigators, Shelman had suffered injuries not related to the fire, and her death has been ruled a homicide. The baby was identified as 8-month-old Jeremiah Shelman and it's unclear if he was killed prior to the fire being set.