POINCIANA, Fla. — The 24-year-old man charged with murdering a Poinciana man on Christmas Day said he never felt threatened before firing multiple shots at the victim, according to an arrest affidavit released by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
The man, identified as Jonathan Velasquez, told deputies he heard an argument between neighbors on Montclair Way and got his gun in case the situation escalated.
Deputies said Velasquez told them he saw a woman slap a man, identified as 38-year-old Robert Gray, in the backyard before she went back into the house. Velasquez said Gray reacted by smashing the glass sliding door and stepping inside.
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After that, Velasquez told deputies he ran toward the house, fired a shot into the ground and told Gray to exit the home. Velasquez said he then hid behind a tree as Gray approached.
Once the men were within 10 feet of each other, deputies said Velasquez fired in Gray’s direction, causing Gray to fall to the ground immediately. Deputies said Gray’s girlfriend called 911 to report the shooting.
"The guy across the street shot him for no (expletive) reason," the woman is heard saying in newly released 911 tapes.
Velasquez also called 911 during the incident and deputies said he complied when the dispatcher told him to put his gun down.
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According to the arrest affidavit, Velasquez told deputies "he was never threatened, never saw a weapon, and took it upon himself to retrieve his gun prior to calling 911."
Deputies said Gray was transported to Poinciana Medical Center, where he died.
Gray's girlfriend denied being with an argument with Gray prior to the shooting, according to the arrest affidavit.
But records show the couple have a history of domestic violence. Five months ago Osceola deputies arrested Gray after his girlfriend called 911 and reported that Gray hit her over the head and pulled her around by her hair during an argument.
Gray was placed on probation following th incident.
After the shooting, deputies said Velasquez remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.
On Wednesday, deputies said they arrested Velasquez on a murder charge.
Velasquez faced a judge on Thursday who denied him bond.
According to the report, investigators say Velasquez "admitted that he was never threatened, never saw a weapon, and took it upon himself to retrieve his gun prior to calling 911." <a href="https://twitter.com/WFTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WFTV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WFTV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WFTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/tHy6TpnlVb">pic.twitter.com/tHy6TpnlVb</a>
Cox Media Group
