Girl, 11, Says Dad Was Shot, Killed Over $35

[redtanker]

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. -- Three days after her father was shot and killed, an 11-year-old recounted a haunting story about what she saw when a man she thought was a family friend walked through the door with a rifle.

Deputies were called out to a home on Old Dine Field Road in Middleburg Friday night. That's when they said 32-year-old Jonathan Williams pulled out a rifle after Buddy Pickett showed up at his door along with his two kids and a teenage neighbor asking for $35 dollars.

Pickett's daughter, 11-year-old Sierra, said they had gone to Williams' home to get some money to buy groceries, but they never expected the man to come outside carrying a rifle.
Sierra said the two families had always gotten along until last Friday's shooting.

"He loaded the biggest bullet up he had, and then he shot him," Sierra said.

The Clay County Sheriff's office said William shot Pickett at close range with high-powered rifled. The father of three died after being hit with multiple shots.

One of the 11-year-old's friends was shot in the leg during the incident.

Detective Eddy Howell said witnesses have told him that Pickett was only trying to take care of his family.

"From what we've talked about with witnesses, it sounds like it was over some money," Howell said.

"Buddy just wanted John to give him $35 he owed him so he could take care of his family," said Pickett's mother, Patricia Pickett.

She said her son sent his daughter and a friend to collect the money to avoid any confrontation, and that Pickett only went to the house when Williams began cursing at the children.

Sierra told Channel 4 that after a verbal exchange, Williams went inside his home.

"We waited because we thought he was going to give us the money," she said.

Instead, police said when Williams opened the door again he opened fire and killed Pickett.

"If there was something wrong, he could've called the police to my son. He didn't have to do that to him," Patricia Pickett said.

According to authorities, Williams said he shot Pickett in self-defense after he threatened to be burned his home to the ground.

Police said Williams is charged with murder.

[CoopMGI]

Sad story. There are two types of people in Florida, the ones who can afford to move there, and the ones who cannot afford to move away. (I left in 1981).

[conlor]

It's a shame, but there might be another side of the story, if Wiliams felt threatened. He could have called the poice.

It sounds more like stories that used to come out of KY, TN or Montana.