GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Almost one year to the day after a Clay County detective was shot and killed in the line of duty, new arrests have been made in connection with the deadly shooting of Detective David White.
The FDLE arrested four men, charging them all with dealing stolen property.
Saturday marks one year since the hero was killed protecting his community.
Detectives White and Matt Hanlin were both shot while investigating a meth lab. Detective White died of his injuries.
New arrests have been made near the anniversary of his death.
"I tip my hat to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and ATF for doing such a thorough investigation," said Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler.
According to the FDLE, the gun used in the homicide was stolen in Jacksonville in 2011 by Robert Apple II. It then passed though the hands of Christopher Henderson, Curtis "Ping" Dingler and Jack Lemond. Investigators say all of them knew the gun was stolen.
We're told Lemond then gave it to convicted felon Ted Tilley -- who police say pulled the trigger, killing Detective White.
"It's heartbreaking to know that if our gun laws were being properly enforced possibly this gun wouldn't have been in the hands of Mr. Tilley who used it to shoot out deputy."
Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler says as the anniversary approaches, their wounds are raw. Losing one of their own has been a painful reality. He says these arrests help them heal. But this department will likely never find closure.
"Everyone who knew David and everyone who was involved in all of this will never, ever forget and never be the same. I think holding people responsible does help and I'm glad that we're moving toward that direction now," he said. "People are being held accountable and they're paying for what they did."
Sherriff Beseler says investigators pulled out all the stops on this one because it involved the killing of a detective. He hopes one day, all crimes involving illegal firearms can be investigated the same way.
The sheriff's office has a ceremony planned for Friday to honor Detective White. Action News will be there.
