POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A 21-year-old Florida man who shot his grandmother in the neck on Thursday told investigators he “killed the devil,” officials said.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Byron Quintez Dexter came out of his bedroom around 7 p.m. carrying a handgun, pointed it at his 16-year-old sister and asked, “What’s going on,” WFLA reported.
She backed up, grabbed the other children around her and left the room. Their grandmother was seated at a table and Dexter immediately turned and shot her in the neck. He then ran from the house.
“(His mother) got into the room just in time to see Byron fleeing out of the home, gun in hand,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
The grandmother was taken by helicopter to a hospital, where she is in critical condition.
Deputies later found Dexter, with a .22 caliber handgun, riding a bicycle he had found near a highway. He was taken into custody.
Judd said Dexter told investigators, “I killed a black queen so I won the game,” and later, “I killed the devil.” Judd said Dexter had no previous criminal history but did suffer mental health issues, WFLA reported. Judd said the family tried to get help for Dexter but he refused.
Dexter was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, carrying a concealed firearm and shooting into an occupied dwelling, investigators said.