Political fight online are always hazardous . But a recent Facebook contravention between two alien in Florida conduct to a hummer in the stern .
Brian Sebring , 44 , faces felony charges after he decided to take an argument offline .
“ I go off the cryptic oddment , ” he differentiate theTampa Bay Times . “ I was n’t thinking right . You know , after this I ’m going to go see a healer or something , man , because that ’s some scary shit , that I could suffer my temper like that and do something so dazed . ”
The Times reports that the feud in all probability began when Sebring remark on a friend ’s post about Donald Trump , which has since been removed .
Sebring evidence the Times he react to a man named Alex Stephens , who posted that he wanted to express his opinion despite having lost the right hand to vote after being convicted on felony flush . Sebring then reportedly respond saying someone who wants to convey an notion should n’t do crime .
harmonise to Sebring , Stephens then private message him and sent him threatening message , including threats against his family . Stephens , 46 , spent metre in state prison for rush including drug willpower and robbery .
Sebring also has a criminal history . He was arrested and plead shamed to infraction battery charges . He attended ire management class and go along his balloting rightfield . He is a registered Democrat .
The Times retrospect blind snatch of Sebring ’s private - content conversation with Stephens in which Sebring said : “ Dude I ’m going to empty a full 5.56 magazine into your head , ” and “ You really want me to come to your ( house ) . ”
Sebring read he leave behind oeuvre early on Monday , drove to the home he shares with his female parent , married woman , and sons , and grab an AR-15 and his wife ’s handgun . Then he drove to Stephens ’ house . “ I just snapped and get primaeval furore take over , ” Sebring tell the Times .
Stephens told Gizmodo that Sebring imperil to defeat him and that Stephens never endanger Sebring ’s category . “ I do n’t roll like that , ” Stephens wrote in a Facebook substance to Gizmodo . “ Yeah I said issue forth to my house , , , To fight back ! ! ! Not to have a gun fight , , I ’m a hand on hired hand eccentric of guy , , not Glocks and AR-15 . ”
harmonise to Sebring , Stephens come outside his house and charged at him . “ It looked like he was hold a steak knife in his paw and I take scared , ” Sebring tell the Times . “ When I shot him , he dropped it and ran back in the house . ”
Stephens was shot in the buttocks and second joint .
Police spokesman Steve Hegarty told the Times neither men mentioned a knife in their initial reports . Stephens told Gizmodo he did not charge up Sebring with a tongue . “ No not at all , ” he say .
Stephens also provided Gizmodo with a screengrab of a Facebook conversation in which Sebring appear to sport about shoot him . A Facebook user who demand part in the conversation , whose indistinguishability we agreed not to put out , confirmed the authenticity of Sebring ’s remarks . Sebring did not yet react to our asking to comment .
Sebring did not yet respond to our request to comment .
In his interview with the Times , Sebring was more remorseful . “ I ruin my life over this , ” Sebring severalise the outlet “ Now my mother is too afraid to leave the house , my sons are afraid to walk to school or church service , all because of some keyboard mobster . ”
Sebring now faces felony charges of carry a conceal arm and aggravated battery with a lethal weapon system . He may soon fall behind his right field to vote .
Update 4:52pm ET , August 10 : summate a screenshot of a Facebook conversation allow by Stephens and confirmed by a third political party involved in the chat in which Sebring appear to admit to pullulate Stephens .
discipline : Due to a technical error , a previous variant of this article wrong stated that Stephens did not answer to our motion regarding the allegation that he charged Sebring with a knife . He did answer the question , and he denied the allegement . The story also wrong indicated in one representative that Sebring was shot , not Stephens . We regret the errors .
[ Tampa Bay Times ]
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