Attempted Murder

LEESBURG, Fla.—A Leesburg man is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond after shooting another man in unincorporated Leesburg late Monday night.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home on County Road 452 shortly before 11:30 p.m. Monday on a report of an argument between Brandon Saunders and Mike Ford, according to an arrest affidavit.

When deputies arrived, they found Ford lying on the ground suffering from two gunshot wounds and they began rendering aid to Ford, who was in and out of consciousness. He told deputies Saunders came after him and Ford “laid him out.” As he made his way back to his truck, Saunders began shooting at him.; Ford said he believed Saunders was trying to shoot him in the head. He was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center and is in stable condition, according to the affidavit.

While deputies were aiding Ford, Saunders came out of a tree line and “spontaneously” uttered he shot Ford, the affidavit states. Saunders, 41, was then searched and placed in the back of a patrol car.

A witness told deputies Ford came to the home upset and looking for his girlfriend and the witness was inside when the pair started arguing. The witness went outside, and Saunders handed her the gun, which she hid in the backyard. She gave deputies permission to enter the property and they located the gun. Two shell casings were also found at the scene. Ford’s girlfriend told deputies the couple had argued earlier and she went to the home on County Road 452 to stay with her friend.

Saunders, who was holding a beer can at the time of the incident and had the smell of alcohol on his breath, invoked his right to remain silent. Saunders is a three-time convicted felon and was arrested for attempted felony murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he remains on no bond.