Two brothers were arrested after stabbing and shooting one another Wednesday afternoon in Wildwood.
Sumter County sheriff’s deputies responded to 9107 County Road 241 in Wildwood in reference to an altercation involving a gun, according to an arrest report. Upon arrival, a deputy spoke with 43-year-old Ellis Bernard Johnson of Oxford, who stated his brother had shot at him during a verbal altercation, the report stated. The deputy then spoke with Johnson’s brother, 36-year-old Willie Lee Huff of Wildwood, who had fresh blood on the back of his neck and on his white shirt. Huff stated that his brother stabbed him with a screwdriver, and showed the deputy a photograph he took of Johnson helping his mother. The photo showed that Johnson had a black and yellow Philips head screw driver in his left hand. EMS arrived at the scene and determined Huff did have a puncture wound in his back through his shirt.
Johnson stated while working on the well at his mother’s residence, Huff and another woman got into a verbal altercation. Johnson then told the woman to leave and as she was leaving, Huff picked up a hammer and threatened Johnson. After an exchange of words, Huff then shot in the direction of Johnson. Johnson stated he was in fear of his life when Huff picked up the hammer and then shot toward him. Johnson described the gun as black and silver, and also stated he did have a screw driver in his hands because he was working on his mother’s well, but after the verbal altercation, Huff shot in his direction.
Huff stated he always kept his gun on his person. He also stated he was running away from Johnson, who in turn stabbed him after a verbal altercation. Huff stated he then shot toward the ground in the same direction as Johnson in self-defense.
Huff was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center for his stab wound. Two witnesses observed the argument and the shooting occur. One witness observed the shooting occur, but also stated that Johnson attempted to push Huff away after he charged at him several times. When the deputy asked the witness if Johnson pushed him from behind, she stated, “Yes, where else was he supposed to push to get away” Johnson signed an intent to prosecute form.
Due to the stab wound and conflicting statements regarding whether the shooting occurred before or after the stabbing, the deputy placed Huff under arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Huff was transported to the Sumter County Detention Center after leaving the hospital. Johnson was also placed under arrest on a charge of aggravated battery and was also transported to the Sumter County Detention Center.
