Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Man accused of shooting at sister during fight

The 26-year-old is in jail after deputies charge him with attempted murder.

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 7, 2005

LACOOCHEE - A heated dispute between siblings early this week landed one man in jail on several charges, including attempted murder.

Benny Joe Asbel, of 39827 State Road 575, was booked into the Land O'Lakes jail Wednesday, two days after a fight with his sister turned violent. He remained there Thursday on $71,000 bail.

A Pasco Sheriff's Office report didn't explain what 26-year-old Asbel and his sister argued about. But a few minutes after she and her boyfriend pushed Asbel out of her mobile home, he returned with a small handgun and pointed it at them, the report stated.

He told the couple he was going to kill them, the report said, and then fired the gun. At the same moment, Asbel's girlfriend pushed him away from the couple. The sister said the first bullet just missed her head, hitting a door frame instead. At least two other shots also missed the couple, they said.

Asbel's sister and her boyfriend then fled to a friend's home. Asbel followed, the report said. The argument resumed, this time elevating when Asbel allegedly put the gun to the boyfriend's temple and appeared to pull the trigger. The gun didn't fire.

Then Asbel pointed the gun at his sister and appeared to pull the trigger. Again, the gun didn't go off, the report stated.

According to the report, a witness told authorities he saw Asbel holding what he thought was a .25-caliber, semiautomatic handgun during the fight but didn't see him point it at anyone. Asbel eventually handed it to the witness, who noticed the gun was jammed.

On Wednesday, a deputy found what appeared to be a small bullet hole at about head level of the sister's door frame. She told authorities she feared for her life.

After his arrest, Asbel said he hit his sister in self-defense. Asked about the shooting, he said only: "I'm sticking to my story."

In addition to attempted murder, Asbel, a construction worker, was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and domestic battery.

[Last modified October 7, 2005, 01:50:23]