GRAND ISLAND, Fla. —A man who was trying to “get answers” is facing an aggravated battery charge after being accused of shooting a woman Saturday.
According to a probable cause affidavit, shortly before 7:15 p.m., Denise Rosa was outside of a home in Grand Island putting her dog in her vehicle when she saw Michael Phillips, 76, and invited him inside for a card game. The address of the residence is redacted from the affidavit. Rosa told deputies she finished with her dog, and when she walked in, she heard Phillips say, “Don’t trust what she says.” Rosa asked him what he meant, and Phillips gave the homeowner a hug and called Rosa, “f****** c***,” and pulled out a revolver.
Rosa and Phillips briefly struggled, and the gun fired, striking Rosa in the left forearm. The witnesses called for Rosa’s husband, and he ran up, tackled Phillips and began fighting him, the affidavit states. The revolver was taken from Phillips and placed on a table during the struggle.
Both Rosa and Phillips were airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center for their injuries.
Phillips agreed to speak with a Lake County Sheriff’s Office detective, and said when he entered the home, he took the gun out of his pocket and that’s when it went off. He told LCSO he had “questions,” and believed that was the only way he would, “get answers.” He also said he believed that was legal, the affidavit states. The affidavit does not reveal what Phillips was trying to get answers about.
Phillips was arrested for aggravated battery and is being held on $25,000 bond.
