A man has been charged with homicide after he was accused of shooting a neighbor, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Major Crimes Division responded to 15980 SE 258th Avenue Road in reference to a reported shooting, according to the report. Following their investigation, officials said detectives arrested Cliffton Anthony Bliss Jr. and charged him with Second Degree Homicide.
Through their investigation, detectives learned that Bliss became angry when his neighbor’s pet entered his property. "Mr. Bliss was so upset that his neighbor’s cat had wandered over into his yard that he went, retrieved a rifle, leaves his home, goes across the street to the victim’s home, tells them that he was upset that their cat came into his yard," said Sgt. Paul Bloom with the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Detectives said Bliss went to his neighbor, James Arland Taylor Jr.'s home armed with a .22-caliber rifle. While he was originally mad about the cat, Sgt. Bloom said Bliss directed his anger at its owner. "The victim, Mr. Taylor, tells him, 'Please don’t shoot my cat,'" Bloom said. "Mr. Bliss decides, 'You know what, I’m just going to shoot him.' So he shot Mr. Taylor and killed him there."
Through their investigation, detectives learned that Bliss became angry when his neighbor’s pet entered his property. "Mr. Bliss was so upset that his neighbor’s cat had wandered over into his yard that he went, retrieved a rifle, leaves his home, goes across the street to the victim’s home, tells them that he was upset that their cat came into his yard," said Sgt. Paul Bloom with the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Detectives said Bliss went to his neighbor, James Arland Taylor Jr.'s home armed with a .22-caliber rifle. While he was originally mad about the cat, Sgt. Bloom said Bliss directed his anger at its owner. "The victim, Mr. Taylor, tells him, 'Please don’t shoot my cat,'" Bloom said. "Mr. Bliss decides, 'You know what, I’m just going to shoot him.' So he shot Mr. Taylor and killed him there."
