A recently-divorced Florida man fatally shot his ex-wife and her grownup son in a “rage” over electrical energy and leaving the lights on in the home, Florida authorities mentioned.
Michael D. Williams, 47, was arrested Sunday night and charged with two counts of first-degree homicide within the deaths of Marsha Ebanks-Williams, 48, and Robert Adams, 28, the Volusia Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned.
Williams had known as 911 simply earlier than 8 p.m. stating he shot his victims “in self-defense” on the DeLand dwelling he nonetheless shared with Ebanks-Williams following their June divorce after 10 years of marriage.
When deputies responded to the house, within the Daytona Park Estates neighborhood, they discovered Williams sitting in a automobile parked within the driveway, the place he surrendered, and Ebanks-Williams and Adams deceased within the dwelling.
Inside, additionally they discovered Adams’ two unhurt younger youngsters, ages 5 and 6, who had been visiting their dad from Tallahassee and will have seen the violence unfold, authorities mentioned.
Chief Deputy Brian Henderson mentioned detectives decided Williams launched the rampage over arguments he had together with his ex relating to electrical energy within the dwelling.
Williams informed officers he shut off energy to the home and locked {the electrical} panel and left on Sunday. However when he got here again, he discovered Ebanks-Williams and Adams had lower the lock, restored energy, and positioned a brand new lock on the panel.
“Michael was upset that he felt that they had been leaving the lights on in the home and he went and put a lock on the field outdoors of the home, which Marsha and her son lower,” Henderson mentioned at a press convention Monday. “So he grew to become upset and that began this argument which finally resulted in these two folks being shot and killed.”
Williams had informed investigators that he was attacked and punched within the face, however Henderson famous he appeared unscathed.
At a press convention Monday, Henderson held up a mugshot of Williams saying: “This doesn’t appear to be a violent assault to me that warrants being shot a number of instances.”
Henderson condemned the assault, saying: “That is completely mindless, this was an argument over electrical energy, wherein he grew to become enraged and dedicated this type of violence.”
Tensions within the dwelling rose to a boiling level over the previous couple of months.
Williams and Ebanks-Williams remained residing collectively following their divorce with plans to ultimately promote the house and cut up the proceeds, Henderson mentioned.
However residing collectively wasn’t a easy course of. The sheriff’s division had responded to at the very least 5 calls on the dwelling in current months relating to disputes over the property and their residing preparations — however none amounted to threats of violence.
Henderson known as the connection “poisonous” and revealed Ebanks-Williams had known as the sheriff’s workplace simply hours earlier than the assault on Sunday searching for authorized recommendation.
Williams has a prison historical past together with nugatory checks, home violence, battery on a legislation enforcement officer and little one abuse, Henderson mentioned Monday.
He was transported to Volusia County Department Jail early Monday and stays held there with no bond.
His arraignment has been scheduled for Oct 19. NBC Information has reached out to an lawyer listed for Williams for remark.
