LEESBURG, Florida—A 22-year-old Leesburg man is facing a slew of charges after shooting at his sister, threatening a Leesburg Police officer, and battering another Sunday evening, according to an arrest affidavit.
Leesburg Police responded to a home on Baker Street on a report of a shooting around 6 p.m. Sunday. When they arrived, Anthony M. Jones, 22, was in the front yard arguing with multiple people, according to an arrest affidavit. Two people were reportedly yelling at Jones for shooting at his sister and LPD immediately detained Jones, who told them they would not find the firearms or the casings, the affidavit states.
Police searched the area and failed to find a gun or shell casings, but witnesses who are related to Jones, told them he did shoot at his sister. They refused to provide written statements. Police spoke to the victim who said she argued with Jones about not providing care for his child and he should return the child to his mother due to his erratic behavior. Jones pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it directly at his sister who ran into the house in fear, according to the affidavit. Once she got into the house, she heard three or four shots, she told police.
Witnesses told LPD Jones ran to a neighbor’s house following the shooting and appeared to hand something off to a white male who drove off rapidly after the exchange. Jones refused to be questioned but made several spontaneous statements including calling an LPD K9 handler by his full name, along with the name of his spouse and child. He continued by saying the officer “needed to get off work early for his family’s good,” the affidavit states. He made so many remarks, including he would “headshot” the officer and “spill my tomato on the sidewalk,” the arresting officer was unable to document all of them, he noted in the affidavit.
Jones was arrested and taken to Leesburg Police Department for processing and officers requested Lake EMS respond due to Jones possibly being under the influence of narcotics. Jones began acting belligerent towards EMS staff and tried to prevent Jones from standing up. Jones is alleged to have jerked free and shoved an officer in the chest.
Jones is facing one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of threatening a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with evidence. He is being held at the Lake County Jail on $210,000 bond.
