Staff report
HAWTHORNE, Fla. — Two men were arrested Tuesday after a dispute over an unpaid debt escalated into violence, according to authorities. Investigators say 37-year-old Jimmy Lee Floyd Jr. allegedly punched 65-year-old Anthony Lee Watson Sr., who then allegedly fired at Floyd after initially walking away.
Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded around 1:20 p.m. on June 17 to a home in the 5800 block of SE 223rd Street after witnesses reported that Floyd may have been shot before running from the scene. Deputies said they found two spent 9mm shell casings outside, along with a bullet hole in an exterior wall roughly a foot above the front porch floor. The bullet was later located inside the front living area of the house.
Deputies then went to Floyd’s home, about a mile away, where they encountered Watson, who had called 911 to report the shooting. Both men were taken to Alachua County Sheriff’s Office headquarters for questioning.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Floyd reportedly told investigators that Watson owed Floyd’s girlfriend money for a job. Floyd said he struck Watson twice in the head and face while Watson was seated in his vehicle. According to Floyd, Watson then said he would go inside to get the money and instructed him to remain on the porch. Floyd told deputies that Watson later came back out, walked past him, then turned and fired at him, prompting Floyd to run.
A deputy noted in the report that Floyd was not struck by the gunfire.
Post Miranda, Watson reportedly said that Floyd had punched him in the face as he sat in his vehicle, so he told Floyd he needed to go inside to get a phone number so he could get money. He said they both went inside, and he picked up his gun; they both walked outside, where Floyd stayed on the porch and Watson walked back to his car. He reportedly said he turned around, pointed his gun at Floyd, and told him he needed to leave the property; when Floyd took a step off the porch, Watson said, he fired one gunshot at the roof, and Floyd fled through the house and out the back door.
The deputy noted that the bullet hole was nowhere near the roof of the house and would have hit the victim in his leg; he also noted that there were two spent shell casings in front of the house, not one.
The deputy also noted that Watson admitted to driving to Floyd’s home after the shooting, indicating that he was not in fear of Floyd, as he had claimed.
Watson has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has no criminal history, and Judge Adam Lee set bail at $250,000.
Floyd has been charged with burglary with battery. He has eight felony convictions (three violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (two violent); he has served five state prison sentences, with his most recent release in April 2026. Judge Lee set bail at $250,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
