Florida man kills ex-wife and stepson in dispute over lights left on in the home

A recently-divorced Florida man fatally shot his ex-wife and her grownup son in a “rage” over electrical energy and leaving the lights on in the home, Florida authorities mentioned.

Michael D. Williams, 47, was arrested Sunday night and charged with two counts of first-degree homicide within the deaths of Marsha Ebanks-Williams, 48, and Robert Adams, 28, the Volusia Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned. 

Williams had referred to as 911 simply earlier than 8 p.m. stating he shot his victims “in self-defense” on the DeLand house he nonetheless shared with Ebanks-Williams following their June divorce after 10 years of marriage. 

When deputies responded to the house, within the Daytona Park Estates neighborhood, they discovered Williams sitting in a automobile parked within the driveway, the place he surrendered, and Ebanks-Williams and Adams deceased within the house. 

Inside, additionally they discovered Adams’ two unhurt younger kids, ages 5 and 6, who have been visiting their dad from Tallahassee and should have seen the violence unfold, authorities mentioned.

Chief Deputy Brian Henderson mentioned detectives decided Williams launched the rampage over arguments he had together with his ex concerning electrical energy within the house.

Williams informed officers he shut off energy to the home and locked {the electrical} panel and left on Sunday. However when he got here again, he discovered Ebanks-Williams and Adams had minimize the lock, restored energy, and positioned a brand new lock on the panel. 

“Michael was upset that he felt that they have been leaving the lights on in the home and he went and put a lock on the field outdoors of the home, which Marsha and her son minimize,” Henderson mentioned at a press convention Monday. “So he turned upset and that began this argument which finally resulted in these two folks being shot and killed.”

Williams had informed investigators that he was attacked and punched within the face, however Henderson famous he appeared unscathed.

At a press convention Monday, Henderson held up a mugshot of Williams saying: “This doesn’t seem like a violent assault to me that warrants being shot a number of occasions.”

Henderson condemned the assault, saying: “That is completely mindless, this was an argument over electrical energy, through which he turned enraged and dedicated this type of violence.”

Tensions within the house rose to a boiling level over the previous couple of months.

Williams and Ebanks-Williams remained residing collectively following their divorce with plans to finally promote the house and cut up the proceeds, Henderson mentioned.

However residing collectively wasn’t a easy course of. The sheriff’s division had responded to at the least 5 calls on the house in current months concerning disputes over the property and their residing preparations — however none amounted to threats of violence. 

Henderson referred to as the connection “poisonous” and revealed Ebanks-Williams had referred to as the sheriff’s workplace simply hours earlier than the assault on Sunday on the lookout for authorized recommendation.

Williams has a prison historical past together with nugatory checks, home violence, battery on a legislation enforcement officer and little one abuse, Henderson mentioned Monday.

He was transported to Volusia County Department Jail early Monday and stays held there with no bond.

His arraignment has been scheduled for Oct 19. NBC Information has reached out to an legal professional listed for Williams for remark.