ALACHUA, Fla. – In a startling incident that unfolded in the early hours of yesterday, 52-year-old Wilton Robert Acta of Lawtey was taken into custody following a dramatic break-in and shooting episode in Alachua County. The suspect allegedly entered a residence through an unconventional entry point—a dog door—before confronting a resident and discharging a firearm at her.
The series of events began around 3 a.m. on April 11, when a deputy from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a home located in the 26000 block of CR 239. Surveillance footage reportedly captured Acta as he made his way up the driveway, forcibly broke the front door handle, and proceeded to crawl through a large dog door. Further footage showed him leaving the property with a firearm in hand.
Once inside, Acta allegedly startled two individuals. One of them managed to escape the residence, shouting for assistance, and alerted a woman staying in a nearby camper about the unfolding situation. Armed with a .357 revolver, the woman confronted Acta, but a struggle ensued. She recounted to authorities that during their altercation, Acta managed to wrestle the gun from her grasp.
Authorities located Acta approximately a quarter of a mile south of the home. As the deputy approached, Acta reportedly discarded an object that resembled a firearm. Despite commands to halt and reveal his hands, Acta allegedly continued advancing toward the deputy, prompting the officer to deploy a taser to subdue and apprehend him.
Upon investigation, a .357 revolver was discovered near Acta’s location, containing several spent casings, confirming its recent use. This incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of the community, highlighting the unpredictable nature of such criminal activities.
The deputy reported that a .357 revolver was found near where Acta was located, and there were multiple spent casings in the revolver.
Post Miranda, Acta reportedly admitted entering the house through a dog door without permission and said he left after he realized he was at the wrong house.
In a separate interview with detectives, Acta reportedly said he was confronted by a woman with a gun as he was leaving the house, and when she pointed the gun at him, he took it from her. He reportedly said he fired two rounds at the woman from five to 10 feet away, with the rounds passing about four inches from her body on each side. Acta reportedly said he had taken methamphetamines “four days ago,” and he went to the house to meet a woman but could not provide any contact information for her; nobody on the property matched the name he provided.
Acta has been charged with attempted homicide by committing a felony that could cause death, burglary of an occupied dwelling, and resisting an officer without violence; the deputy included armed robbery in the probable cause section of the arrest report, but that charge is not listed in court records. Acta was also booked on a warrant for failing to appear at a hearing on an Alachua County charge of driving without a valid license.
His full criminal history is unavailable, but he has convictions in Bradford County for introducing contraband into a detention facility and loitering/prowling, along with several traffic offenses. Judge David Kreider ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
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.
