Blind suspect opens fire at Brooksville apartment, striking 1 following argument: HCSO

A daytime dispute outside downtown Brooksville apartments turned violent when a man shot an acquaintance and hit a nearby vehicle before deputies took him into custody, according to authorities.

Downtown Brooksville shooting investigation

What we know:

A fight between acquaintances escalated into gunfire at the St. Teresa Apartments, just south of the courthouse in downtown Brooksville, according to Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis. 

Deputies quickly locked down the apartment complex and accounted for everyone involved within minutes of the incident.

Nienhuis said the dispute possibly started over a speaker before gunfire erupted, striking a person and a nearby vehicle multiple times. 

The victim called 911 from a few blocks away and initially told dispatchers they did not know where the gunfire originated, according to investigators.

Deputies later confirmed the gunfire took place at the apartment complex and noted the attack was not random.

Hernando County suspect details

What they're saying:

Nienhuis pointed out that the shooting could have been significantly worse because the gunman was blind. 

"The person we have in custody, the person of interest, the suspect in this case, is actually blind, the one who did the shooting, so it is really fortunate that there weren't more injuries," Nienhuis said.

Unreleased case findings

What we don't know:

Deputies have not publicly named the suspect or the victim, and the exact medical condition of the person shot has not been released.

Authorities have not announced the specific formal charges filed against the suspect taken into custody.

The Source: The information in this story was gathered from Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis, who provided on-scene statements detailing the shooting investigation, suspect description, and initial 911 response. 

Hernando CountyCrime and Public Safety