William Mark Williams (Charlotte County Jail).
A Florida homeowner started shooting at two salesmen because they dared to knock on his door in an attempt to sell solar panels, cops say.
The incident took place at approximately 5 p.m. on Monday at a residence located in the 13000 block of Boabadilla Lane in Port Charlotte. A probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime details that deputies from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shooting. The initial report came from a caller who noted that two distressed men knocked on her door, claiming that her neighbor had fired shots at them.
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She guided the men to her backyard, where they took cover behind her shed while she promptly called 911. The woman later informed the deputies that she had heard between six to eight shots, which were soon followed by another four or five. Shortly after, the men, visibly terrified, began knocking on her door and pleading for assistance.
The detectives spoke to the men, aged 20 and 25, who explained that they were in the area selling solar panels. Upon approaching one residence, an older woman answered the door and appeared displeased, instructing them to leave, according to the affidavit. As the men were walking away and had reached a distance of about 50 to 100 feet from the house, they claimed to have heard around five or six shots. They observed a man shouting and aiming a gun in their direction, according to the officers. Fortunately, no one was injured by the gunfire.
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Cops went to the home in question where they arrested 72-year-old William Mark Williams. He stands accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm in public. Both victims identified Williams as the suspect. Cops took him to the Charlotte County Jail where he has since bonded out. He has a court date scheduled for June 30. The court appointed him an attorney because he was labeled indigent, per records.
A picture of Williams’ home on Google Maps taken May 2024 shows a yard sign reading “F— Joe Biden” and an upside down American flag — which has become known as a symbol of right-wing protest — posted near the entry.
“Once again we are called out to a neighborhood in which a firearm was discharged recklessly,” Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said in a statement. “Thankfully, nobody was hurt by this individual’s actions, though I am sure the victims will not forget the fear they felt any time soon. This man’s response to solicitors was absolutely uncalled for and could have been deadly. I pray that people can learn to regulate their emotions instead of jumping to violence so quickly.”
