William C. Duncan, aged 43, died on March 12, 2018, following a violent altercation at Bliss Enterprises of Plant City, Inc., located on E. Knights Griffin Road in Plant City, Florida. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. when Richard Paul Bliss, the owner of the business, engaged in a heated argument with Duncan and another man. Bliss, who had been in an ongoing dispute with the men over their residence on the property, pulled out a gun and shot both Duncan and the other individual. A relative of the two men, who was waiting outside, heard the gunshots and rushed into the office, subsequently shooting Bliss. Bliss was pronounced dead at the scene, while Duncan was transported to Lakeland Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that night.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the shooting, focusing on the circumstances leading up to the altercation. The dispute between Bliss and the men had been escalating for several weeks, primarily revolving around Bliss's repeated requests for them to vacate the property. The sheriff's office confirmed that the relative who shot Bliss was cooperating with authorities and was being interviewed to determine whether the shooting was in self-defense or justified under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law. The final decision on whether to press charges against the relative would be made by the state attorney.
Richard Bliss had a history of legal troubles, including previous arrests for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, battery, and assault. This background added complexity to the investigation, as authorities examined whether Bliss's past behavior played a role in the fatal encounter. The incident highlighted the broader issue of violence stemming from unresolved disputes and the tragic consequences that can arise when conflicts escalate beyond control.
The investigation into the shooting at Bliss Enterprises involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Polk County Sheriff's Office, due to the business's location near the county line. Detectives conducted interviews with witnesses and collected evidence from the scene to piece together the sequence of events. The case drew significant attention from the local community, as friends and family of William C. Duncan mourned his loss and remembered him as a kind and generous individual who was always willing to help others in need.
