Florida man accused of pulling gun, pointing laser sight at neighbors for shooting fireworks
Christopher Lemke, 70, was arrested after allegedly confronting neighbors with a gun about their fireworks use. (Courtesy of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office)
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida man's Fourth of July festivities ended with him in handcuffs after he allegedly came out of his house with a gun and pointed the gun's laser sight at a group of neighbors who were lighting fireworks – all because he was upset that they were flying over his house, according to the arrest report.
Christopher Todd Lemke, 70, was booked into jail on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill, the arrest report said.
Flagler County Sheriff's Officer deputies were called to Rymen Street in Palm Coast shortly before 10 p.m. on July 4th after neighbors called 911 to report that Lemke had pulled a gun on them, and later came out again and said "next person to light one of those is getting one of these," the report said.
Deputies found a WMP .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol in his house, according to the report.
A neighbor said he was lighting fireworks with his kids when Lemke came outside with concerns about the fireworks going over his house. The neighbor told deputies that he and his family moved further down the street to light the fireworks.
However, Lemke then came out a second time – about 15 minutes later – with the firearm and reportedly said "I will shoot the next one that shoots one off," the report said. The neighbor then stepped in front of his children because he feared for his and his family's lives.
FCSO did release some bodycam video of their interaction with Lemke. You can watch that below.
Man pulls gun out fireworks complaint
A 70-year-old Florida man was arrested on two counts of assault after he allegedly pulled out a gun on his neighbors because he was upset that they were lighting loud fireworks near his house. Flagler County Sheriff's Office responded to the neighborhood where fireworks were going off, according to the bodycam, and asked the man what happened. He said he brought the gun outside with him because he was in fear of his life. Deputies, however, questioned why he brought his gun outside for a fireworks complaint.
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Lemke admitted to owning the gun and bringing it outside, but said he had it in his hand because he was afraid to approach the group because of his age – 70. He said he did not point the gun at anyone and that he pointed it at the ground.
He was booked into jail and released on a $2,500 bond.
When reached by phone on Thursday, Lemke declined to be interviewed on camera, but he did talk with a FOX 35 producer. Lemke said he felt he was danger and was concerned about the safety of his family and his home. He said the fireworks were being lit in front of his house and were extreme. He said the intensity of the fireworks could be felt inside their house and that his wide and their pets were panicking because of the noise.