Police capture man wanted in shootings

Winter Garden and Orange County worked together to make the arrest.

By Amy Quesinberry
| 4:26 p.m. October 10, 2020

West Orange Times & Observer
News

The Winter Garden Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 24-year-old Phillip Alonte Stalnaker on charges stemming from two shootings that occurred in Winter Garden Sept. 20 and Oct. 7. Stalnaker was arrested Friday, Oct. 9, on warrant charges for an attempted homicide that took place in September, as well as last week’s first-degree homicide, according to police.

“During the arrest of Stalnaker, he was in possession of a firearm that is believed to be involved in both Winter Garden cases,” Winter Garden Police Capt. Scott Allen said. “Investigators interviewed Stalnaker, and he admitted to being the suspect in both cases and that today’s arrest has kept him from committing an additional homicide that he had planned to commit.”

Stalnaker is accused of shooting 60-year-old Jose Manuel Clas Gonzalez Wednesday, Oct. 7, as he sat on the porch of a residence at 1020 Lincoln Terrace, Winter Garden, according to police. Police say the motive was robbery.

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Amy Quesinberry

Community Editor Amy Quesinberry was born at the old West Orange Memorial Hospital and raised in Winter Garden. Aside from earning her journalism degree from the University of Georgia, she hasn’t strayed too far from her hometown and her three-mile bubble. She grew up reading The Winter Garden Times and knew in the eighth grade she wanted to write for her community newspaper. She has been part of the writing and editing team since 1990.