A young man is facing several charges after an altercation with one of his alienated friends. The incident dates back to last week and happened in Bartow, Florida. The argument between the two started at Hard Rock Casino Tampa and continued throughout the night, resulting in attempted murder, among other charges.
The suspect in the crime, identified with the initials L.B., is 33 years old. The man from Bartow was accused of attempted murder second degree, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, felon in possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm in a residential area, resisting an officer without violence and attempting to tamper with evidence after allegedly trying to hide a rifle he used, as announced by WFLA.
Per Florida’s criminal laws, a person convicted of second-degree murder in the state can be subject to a fine of up to $10,000 and imprisonment of up to 15 years. In such cases, the prosecution needs to prove that the person charged intentionally completed an act that would have caused the death of another person unless prevented by something or someone.
One of the charges the suspect is facing, a felon in possession of a firearm, suggests that he previously had troubles with the law. In case a person is a felon in Florida, and they are found guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon, a prison sentence of three years is applicable. Still, it is important to note that everyone is presumed innocent prior to being proven guilty beyond doubt in a court of law.
Shots Fired between the Suspect and the Victim
According to the recent report, Polk County Sheriff’s Office released information regarding the latest incident. As noted, the argument between the two men started at the Hard Rock Casino Tampa. Then, the conflict escalated at a strip club in the Tampa area.
The two traveled together and the suspect allegedly attempted to crash the victim’s car, the police report reveals. In another escalation of the conflict between the duo, they threw fists while on Interstate 4 but continued to the neighborhood where they both lived.
Once dropping off the victim, the 33-year-old suspect got his hands on a semi-automatic rifle. He confronted the victim’s mother and then shot between two and four rounds into the ground. At some point, the victim was also held by the suspect at gunpoint.
After that, the victim went home and took two of his handguns. The man walked out with a .45 cal Hi-Point and .380 cal Beretta. The victim fired a couple of shots into the ground, effectively scaring off the attacker. The 33-year-old was later arrested by law enforcement after an hour-long standoff at his residence.