Inset: Michael Phillips (Lake County Jail). Background: Home in Grand Island, Florida, where Phillips allegedly shot a woman (Google Maps).
A Florida man allegedly shot a woman after calling her a nasty name on his way to a card game — and then received a beatdown from her husband.
Michael Phillips, 76, stands accused of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon — and has a busted-up face to go along with it. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, deputies with the Lake County Sheriff”s Office responded just after 7 p.m. Saturday to a home in the 3600 block of Sand Road in Grand Island, which is roughly 45 miles northwest of Orlando, for a shooting.
When deputies arrived, they reportedly found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the forearm, as well as the suspect, who had trauma to his face. Witnesses told cops that the victim and her husband were putting her dog into her car when Phillips walked up and asked if it was OK to enter the home to play cards.
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As Phillips was walking inside, he allegedly turned to the victim and said “you’re a f—ing c—” before he pulled out a gun from his pocket and shot her. Witnesses said the victim’s husband ran to his wife’s defense and started pummeling Phillips, whose gun was apparently taken from him and placed on a table.
The victim told cops that when Phillips first came up to the home, he had said of the victim, “Don’t trust what she says.” When the victim asked Phillips why he made that claim, he apparently responded with name-calling.
After receiving his Miranda warnings, Phillips admitted to pulling out a gun, the affidavit says. He claimed someone grabbed him and the gun went off, hitting the victim.
“When asked why he pulled out the firearm he advised he had questions and believed that was the only way he would get answers along with that he believed that was legal,” cops wrote.
Phillips was arrested and taken to the Lake County Jail where he is being held on a $25,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 10.
