A 69-year-old DeBary man was arrested last week after he allegedly chased another man out of his yard and shot him with a shotgun.
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a shooting at 9 Cunningham Road slightly after 6 p.m. on Friday, December 15.
Upon arrival, deputies found a 45-year-old victim lying at the end of the roadway. The man was bleeding from a gunshot wound to his ankle. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to VCSO.
The victim, who lived a short distance away from the scene of the shooting, told detectives that he was searching the area for a bike that has been repeatedly stolen out of his yard.
While the victim was searching, he said he found a dirt path and ended up near a recreational vehicle at 9 Cunningham Road. At that time, a man, later identified as John Baker, emerged from the RV carrying a shotgun.
The victim says that Baker accused him of vandalizing or burglarizing his property and began chasing him. The victim says he ran away in fear of Baker before he was shot in the leg.
During an interview, Baker told authorities that he shot the victim because he had heard him trying to break into his RV.
Deputies say they found the shotgun shell around 150 yards away from the RV. Additionally, there were no signs of an attempted break-in or any damage to the RV.
After their investigation, law enforcement authorities arrested Baker on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.