News and Investigations

On Saturday, October 2, 2021, following a two-hour manhunt, PCSO detectives arrested 39-year-old Shaun Paul Runyon of Pennsylvania for 3 counts of First Degree Murder (FC) and one count of Aggravated Battery (F2).

Based on the investigation so far, Runyon and the three victims:
• Kevin Lanusse, 41, from Effort, Pennsylvania 
• Dewlon Donell, 46, from Baltimore, Maryland
• Gregory Dolezal, 41, from Akron, Ohio

were contracted by Publix Headquarters in Lakeland for electrical work. The four were employed with JNB Electric in Pennsylvania, and were staying in a rental home in unincorporated Davenport with another coworker (there were five total employees staying in the home).

On Friday, October 1, Runyon and Lanusse, the supervisor, had an on-the-job disagreement that ended with Runyon punching Lanusse. Runyon then left the job site. The co-workers assumed Runyon was going home to Pennsylvania. 

Runyon returned to the home at about 9:45 a.m. the next day (Saturday morning) where he murdered Lanusse and Donell while they were asleep, by beating them to death with a baseball bat. Dolezal woke up prior to being attacked, and tried to escape. Runyon fatally stabbed Dolezal.

Runyon also struck another co-worker with the bat as he was trying to escape. That victim had his wife and daughter in the home as well, but all three were able to escape without further harm.  

After the murders, Runyon fled in a rental car to the Lake Wales area. Deputies located him at the Lake Wales Medical Center where he was arrested without incident.

Runyon told the detectives that on Friday he drove to Georgia, where he bought a crossbow and devised a plan to return to Florida and kill his three coworkers. He drove to Tampa, left his work vehicle at the Tampa International Airport, and rented a Nissan Versa from Enterprise. He told detectives that he purchased a baseball bat in Tampa, which he decided to use instead of the crossbow.

Runyon was booked into the Polk County Jail and is being held without bond. 

According to the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas, he was arrested by the Borough of Nazareth Police Department on May 21, 2021, and charged with Strangulation, Endangering Welfare of a Child, Terroristic Threats, 2 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Assault, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Harassment. He posted 10% of his $75,000 bond and was released on May 28, 2021. His next hearing was scheduled for October 14, 2021. He has prior arrests for Theft by Unlawful Taking, Theft of Lost Property, Receiving Stolen Property, DUI, and Careless Driving.



*The victims’ families gave permission to release the names of the deceased.