A Frostproof man was arrested in late November after allegedly firing a weapon at three hunters preparing for a legal duck hunt in Lake Clinch.
The following is an excerpt from the arrest affidavit as it reads. Lake Wales Daily provides the verbiage from the report so that the reader may understand the facts as were presented by the arresting deputy. Certain names and other information have been redacted.
At approximately 0530 hours on 11/29/24, three victims, (REDACTED), were in kayaks and a Jon boat, in Lake Clinch approximately 40 yards from the shore line west of (REDACTED) Rd., in Frostproof, Fl. They were preparing duck decoys for sunrise to duck hunt.
While they were in the water, they observed that a bright light being shone at them from the residence at (REDACTED) Rd. Upon seeing the light, they heard approximately 20 shots being fired towards the lake. The victims never approached the shore line or any private property. They stated the light initially scanned the water way until it located them, then they heard the shots being fired off.
The victims began to pack up their decoys when a white male suspect walked to the shore line and began yelling at them asking them what they were doing. They explained that they were legally duck hunting when the suspect yelled back “good luck with that” and fired two rounds into the lake.
The victim’s stated the rounds were fired in their direction into the water in front of them.
They sought cover by getting low into the water and attempting to hide behind their boats. The victim’s noted the water was already chest deep and it was hard for them to move due to the weeds they were in.
The suspect returned a few minutes later with a white pickup truck and parked, shining the lights at the victims.
A few minutes later a gray Toyota pickup, possibly driven by the same suspect, arrived and drove along the shore line and even drove into the lake until the hood was submerged in the water. This initially placed the victims in fear until they realized the lake was too deep for the truck to get to them.
Deputies located a person of interest from the residence and identified him as Devon White. A show up was conducted and (REDACTED) was able to positively identify the suspect as the same that fired shots from the shore line. (REDACTED) advised that he was able to see the suspect at the shoreline as he shined a flash light into the lake. He did advise that the suspect had changed clothes before the show up.
The three victims provided sworn recorded statements and all three advised that they could hear bullets striking the water, which placed them in fear for their safety.
They could not confirm where the first volley of 20 rounds stuck the water, but they could hear it. Regarding the second incident where the suspect fired shots from the shoreline, they advised the suspect was shooting into the lake between him and them and they feared the rounds would ricochet across the water and strike them.
During the initial investigation, Patrol units observed a hand gun in the Toyota pickup truck parked at the residence. A search is being authored to obtain for the pistol from the Toyota truck.
Devon White is charged with three counts of 2nd Degree Attempted murder for having fired shots from the shoreline at the victims. Three counts of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm for having fired shots at the three victims from the residence. Both incidents created a well-founded fear for the victim’s safety.
He was charged with unlawfully use of a firearm during a felony, illegal discharge of a firearm in a residential area and interfering with the taking of game from a public waterway.
