Man shot in neck by boy's father during custody exchange at Publix: affidavit
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — A man is accused of shooting a man in the neck during a custody exchange of an 8-year-old boy at a West Palm Beach Publix.
According to an affidavit, 28-year-old Joseph Halford was waiting in the parking lot on Friday for his 8-year-old son to be dropped off by the child's mother, Brittany Ferguson, and her boyfriend, Carlton Matthews.
Road rage may have led to shooting at Florida Publix, deputies say
Ferguson told officers with the West Palm Beach Police Department that her boyfriend parked their vehicle next to Halford's, and got out to meet Halford, who was already standing next to his car.
Halford claimed that the boyfriend used his index and middle finger to make a gun gesture and pressed it into his head. He told officials that he was only there to get his son and not deal with the boyfriend.
When the suspect's son, Jacob, got out of the mother's vehicle, he grabbed the child and put him in the back of his car. That's when the boyfriend told him, 'I spared you because of your son,' according to the affidavit.
Child finds mother dead in home after ex-husband flees: deputies
That's when Halford pulled a semi-automatic 9mm Taurus out from his left armpit and fired a single shot, striking the man in the neck. The affidavit said the gunshot struck the front of his throat and exited the rear of his neck. Meanwhile, Halford claimed the firearm was pointed at his head and chest area and that he did not intend to kill him.
Halford's cousin told authorities that he called her, appearing to be 'in a panic,' asking her to come to the Publix. He told her he fired the gun after the boyfriend reached toward his belt line.
When police arrived, the victim was found with a gunshot wound and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Halford was arrested on a charge of attempted felony murder with a firearm. He is being held without bond.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Martin County Sheriff's Office arrests 4 people accused of using counterfeit money locally
MARTIN COUTNY — Martin County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested four people in a counterfeit money spending spree, according to sheriff's officials June 6. The people went from store to store offloading the counterfeit bills, a lot of which the Sheriff's Office was able to retrieve, according to sheriff's spokesperson Christine Christofek. She said the agency's criminal investigations division was able to track the people down. Palm City: Detectives seize drugs and rounds of ammunition in drug house bust Martin County: Sheriff's office arrests two after man's death following Mudfest incident The counterfeit cash was used at these businesses: two Publix stores, Walgreens, Office Depot, Rack Room Shoes, twice at Home Depot, twice at Lowe's, and twice at Aldi, according to Christofek. She said the people also attempted to use the counterfeit money at Walmart and Ollie's Bargain Outlet. This story will be updated after a Sheriff's Office news conference this afternoon about the arrests. , where more informtion will be availableOlivia Franklin is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Olivia on X @Livvvvv_5 or reach her by phone at 317-627-8048. E-mail her at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Four arrested after counterfeit money spending spree in Martin County
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tow truck driver damages Pasco man's new septic system while looking for stuck Amazon truck
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Jerry Wolfe said he was shocked to discover a tow truck stuck in his Pasco County backyard, with one tire partially buried in his newly installed septic tank system. Wolfe told 8 On Your Side Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken that the driver told him he was following GPS coordinates to locate a stuck Amazon delivery truck, which he claimed led him 60 paces past Wolfe's shed and onto his private property. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'I said, 'Well, why didn't you get out and look, this is my backyard, this is private property and you're buried in my leach field and you just crushed my septic tank and he said he was just trying to do his job, trying to find the Amazon truck,'' Wolfe said. The tow truck belonged to Pinellas Towing & Transport. After another tow truck arrived to pull the stuck vehicle free, Wolfe discovered significant damage to his septic system. Wolfe said the driver told him the manager would be available Monday to discuss the issue. However, Wolfe said he left multiple messages with no response, so he called Better Call Behnken for help. WATCH: Osceola Sheriff Marcos Lopez arrested on racketeering charges He said he spent $3,700 to repair the septic system. 'Please, just own up to the mistake,' Wolfe said. 'Contact me, and let's get this worked out.' Behnken left a message, and hours later, the manager called back, saying this fell through the cracks, but he would make this right. Thursday evening, Wolfe sids a check for the full amount was hand-delivered to his home. Behnken will follow up after Wolfe is able to cash the check. The tow truck manager told Behnken this was an honest mistake, and he would take care of covering the costs of the damages. The Amazon truck was located about a quarter mile down the road, Wolfe said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Animal control officer is mauled by dog during welfare check in Fort Lauderdale
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WFLA) — A Broward County Animal Control officer was hospitalized last week after she was attacked by a dog and suffered serious injuries. The attack happened in the 700 block of Southwest 14th Terrace around 7 p.m. Thursday. According to NBC affiliate WTVJ, the animal control worker, Martina Bernard, was doing a welfare check on an American Staffordshire terrier mix when the dog began to maul her. Police said that a neighbor called 911 after hearing a woman cry for help and seeing the dog with its teeth around her neck. Body camera video shows officers arriving at the scene to find Bernard laying on the ground in the backyard with her face covered in blood. The dog's owner is also seen in the video holding down the dog, which had been stabbed in an attempt to remove it from Bernard. The officer can be heard asking the woman where she was bit, to which she responds, 'All over my head, my face, my breast, my neck.' Bernard was rushed to Broward health Medical Center for treatment. Officers removed the dog who was transported to Broward County Animal Care where it was later euthanized. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
