LAKELAND, Fla. — An argument over speeding cars led to a Lakeland man shooting his AR-15 into the air, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
It happened Wednesday night on Crystal Hills Drive off Maine Avenue.
In an affidavit, deputies said two family members were driving down Crystal Hills Drive when 35-year-old Eric Proctor threw a beer can at their moving car. When they arrived at their friend's house a short distance away, Proctor reportedly came over and started a verbal fight.
A witness told deputies that Proctor said he was going to go get his "15" and walked back to his house. He returned with an AR-15-style rifle and shot a round into the air, according to the affidavit.
That witness also reported that Proctor pointed the rifle at him and "placed him in fear for his life." Proctor reportedly fired two more rounds into the ground before returning to his house.
Proctor's wife Shannon told the sheriff's office she and her husband have had problems with the neighbors speeding through the neighborhood. She also confirmed that her husband retrieved his firearm during the argument and fired two "warning shots."
Responding deputies said Proctor initially denied shooting any firearm during the argument and told them his only gun was a .22 rifle that had a lock on it.
According to the affidavit, Shannon led deputies to the gun in their closet and said it was the only firearm she knew of in the house when "one of their children spontaneously stated there was an additional black rifle in the shed."
Detectives said they searched the shed to find a black AR-15-style rifle with rounds that matched the casings found near the scene of the argument.
Additional home security cameras captured Proctor walking out of his home with the rifle and returning a few minutes later with the same rifle in hand.
Proctor was arrested and is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, throwing a deadly missile, tampering with physical evidence and discharging a firearm in public.
"He's locked up in the county jail — aggravated assault...over speeders," Sheriff Judd said. "If you’re that stirred up just call us. We’ll deal with it and you won’t end up in jail charged with a felony."
