https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...r-shooting-dead-black-neighbor-Christmas.htmlA man has been accused of murder after he shot dead his Florida neighbor on Christmas day after hearing him fighting with his girlfriend.
Jonathan Velasquez, 24, has been charged with murder and was denied bail at a hearing on Thursday for killing Robert Hugh-Patrick Gray, 38, on December 25.
Velasquez was visiting a home he often stays at in Kissimmee on Christmas when he heard two neighboring residents Gray and his girlfriend Taniqua Kales arguing in their backyard.
He told deputies he went outside for a drink and saw Kales slap Gray in their backyard and go into their house. Gray allegedly responded by smashing the glass sliding door and entering the home.
He said that he feared the argument would escalate.
Velasquez then ran into the home where he was staying, grabbed his gun, then fired a shot into the ground and ordered Gray to get out of the house, according to his arrest report.
Gray was unarmed and told Velasquez that he was on his own property and he began to walk towards Velasquez, who hid behind a tree in the backyard.
As Gray walked toward him, Velasquez called 911. When they were about 10 feet apart from each other, Velasquez fired two shots at Gray. Velasquez told deputies he was never threatened and never saw a weapon.
Gray was rushed to Poinciana Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Records show that Kales and Gray have a history of domestic violence.
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