OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — A Baker man is charged with aggravated assault after reportedly firing a shotgun toward a juvenile, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
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The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 8:30 p.m. Monday to a report of shots fired near Skeeter Lane in Baker.
Investigators said a juvenile was near the corner of his family’s property, building a fort and using a flashlight on his phone.
A nearby neighbor, identified as 54-year-old James Knight, is said to have believed the individual was an adult and ordered him to leave.
Mr Knight then reportedly fired a round from a 20-gauge shotgun in the person’s direction in an attempt to scare him away.
The juvenile yelled out in fear, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
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Deputies said Knight continued to fire additional rounds toward the juvenile, even after acknowledging the individual was not on his property line.
He is said to have told deputies he recognized the teen’s voice as a juvenile and stated he was holding the gun at a 45-degree angle.
No injuries were reported.
Deputies said Mr Knight’s actions created a well-founded fear in the victim, showed he had the ability to carry out the threat, and would cause a reasonable person to fear imminent harm.
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