Crime notes
Family fight ends with shotgun and arrest
BROOKSVILLE — A family disturbance south of Brooksville turned ugly over the weekend.
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office said it began Saturday with an argument between Barbara Lewis and her oldest son, Jason, 21, at their home at 2230 Endsley Road. Dillon Lewis, Jason's younger brother, intervened, and the two brothers exchanged words, at which point Jason said he was leaving but would be back and intended to shoot Dillon.
When Jason returned, he was armed with a shotgun and approached a group sitting around a bonfire, and the dispute continued. Authorities say Jason first pointed the gun at Dillon's face, then at his legs, and pulled the trigger.
The round struck the ground inches from Dillon's right foot, and the people around the bonfire rushed toward Jason in an effort to disarm him.
Dillon and a bystander suffered minor injuries when the round apparently ricocheted off the ground. Jason fled, then surrendered to authorities Sunday.
He was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was being held this week at the Hernando County Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Police find meth lab in motel room
BROOKSVILLE — An anonymous tip led to the discovery of a meth lab in a motel room on Brooksville's east side.
When Hernando sheriff's deputies arrived Sunday morning at the Budget Inn, 1795 E Jefferson St., they knocked on the door of a room. When the two occupants opened the door, deputies saw a one-pot meth lab inside.
Arrested were Benjamin Welch, 35, and Rebecca Looney, 33, both of whom were visiting from Virginia.
Looney told authorities that Welch was making the meth. Investigators said the meth was for personal use.
Welch was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possessing meth, possessing drug paraphernalia and providing false identification to a law enforcement officer. Looney was charged with resisting an officer without violence.