A dispute between two brothers in Florida reportedly escalated from an accusation of theft to a ceramic bowl being thrown — and then to rifle fire hitting a home.
Lake County deputies responded shortly after noon Tuesday to a property along State Road 33 near Groveland after receiving a report of a shooting. News 6 reported that the information came from a Lake County Sheriff’s Office release.
The brothers had been arguing about an accusation of theft when the confrontation intensified, according to the account. One brother threw a ceramic bowl toward the other.
The other man then went to his residence, retrieved a rifle, and allegedly fired multiple rounds toward his brother. Several bullets struck the victim’s home, but no injuries were reported.
Shots Followed
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The sheriff’s office initially said the suspect had returned to his residence after the shooting. A SWAT team was called to the property as deputies worked to locate him.
Inside Lake reported that Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stephanie Earley placed the initial response at about 12:15 p.m. The outlet later updated its report at 9:20 p.m. to say the suspect had been taken into custody without incident.
A subsequent News 6 video report identified the man as Brian Stephens. ClickOrlando identified him more fully as Brian Keith Stephens.
Details Still Coming
The unusual escalation began with a dispute over an accusation of theft, but publicly available reporting has not yet established additional details about what was allegedly taken or what happened immediately before the bowl was thrown.
The sheriff’s office also had not made an incident-specific release readily available through its public website or Facebook page as of Wednesday afternoon. An authoritative booking record establishing Stephens’ charges, bond, or current custody status was also not readily available.
For now, the investigation remains active, and additional details could change the public account as the sheriff’s office releases records from the case.
Stephens is accused in connection with the shooting; the allegations have not been proven in court.