Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies arrest 81-year-old man for attempted murder

Alachua County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle.
Courtesy of ACSO

An 81-year-old man was arrested by Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies Thursday afternoon after firing multiple shots at victims who went to clean a residence.

According to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) release, a deputy responded to SE County Road 234 to the report of an armed disturbance.

John Morgan Webb
Alachua County Jail John Morgan Webb

When he arrived, the victims informed the deputy that they had gone to clean a residence when they encountered the suspect, John Morgan Webb, 81, inside. The victims told Webb that he was not supposed to be in the residence, and in response, Webb drew a revolver from his pants and fired a single round into the ceiling.

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As the victims fled from the house, Webb allegedly stated, “No, don’t move; you got to die first.”

Webb then followed them outside and fired multiple rounds at their vehicle as they attempted to flee. Several rounds were fired at the vehicle and disabled the engine, causing it to stop in the middle of the SE CR 234.

Webb then left the scene in his vehicle, but was intercepted by ACSO deputies, who conducted a high-risk traffic stop. Webb was detained without incident and, based on the victim’s statements, video evidence and an interview with the suspect, Webb was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder.

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Johnnie Burkett

He Was Homeless And Helpless And Hungry So Everything is A Dam Threat Let Him Do 30 Days In Jail give Him Community Service For Year At Senior Assisted living where He Should been Anyway. Help Him Not Hurt poor Old 🗝️ Man

Letstalkaboutit

No excuse to try and kill two people trying to do their job. Lock him up and let him rot till he expires.

Real Gainesville Citizen and Voter

Homeless and helpless? But he can afford a revolver, ammunition and a “vehicle” in which he “left the scene”? Doesn’t seem to meet the any definition of helpless I’ve ever heard. I’m five years older than this guy, but I still have sense enough to know that one does not go around “firing multiple shots at victims who went to clean a residence.”

GatorTownie112

You’d be singing a different tune had this man shot multiple rounds at your mother or sister. What if one of those bullets had hit their mark?

It’s a sad situation yes, but what else can we do?

PERSON WHO KNOWS MORE

Yes, they were divorced since 1998, however, they still lived together as husband and wife until a few months before she passed away. There is a lot more to this story than being posted. I do not condone what he did. It is a tragedy. He once told me “You made your bed, now you have to lay in it”. I guess it fits this situation as well. I feel sorry for most involved.