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Florida Man Arrested For Beating Wife Before Being Shot By Stepson
Officials say William Zimmerman was assaulting his wife in June when he was shot by his stepson. Zimmerman, who claimed he was shot without warning, was arrested after his release from the hospital.
A Florida man whom authorities say was shot by his stepson was arrested on intimate partner violence charges upon his release from a hospital.
William Zimmerman, 53, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with battery, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. His arrest follows his discharge from a Miami hospital, where he had been treated for injuries following a shooting in June.
Authorities say Zimmerman’s 25-year-old stepson, whose name was not disclosed, shot Zimmerman in self-defense.
Deputies responded to a Coconut Highway residence in Big Pine Key on June 26 at around 7:30 p.m., after officials said the stepson called 911 to report shooting Zimmerman with a handgun after Zimmerman allegedly beat the shooter’s mother.
According to a 911 call history report obtained by the Miami-Herald, dispatchers noted they heard “possible shots fired” on the call, followed by a woman screaming and loud banging.
“You attacked my mother,” the stepson yelled over the 911 call. “You should have just stayed away.”
He also told dispatchers he “didn’t want this to happen.”
The Miami-Herald reported that the stepson used a .22 caliber firearm to shoot Zimmerman in the abdomen.
The stepson — who was not charged in the shooting — then administered CPR until responders arrived at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies said he was cooperative in their investigation.
“He claimed he shot his stepfather to defend himself and his mother from immediate harm,” said officials. “He also stated his mother is a regular victim of domestic violence and that his stepfather routinely threatens to kill him, her and law enforcement.”
The stepson also told authorities that Zimmerman is known to possess firearms.
The mother confirmed that Zimmerman regularly beat her and threatened her son’s life.
“He battered his wife and threatened her in the past,” sheriff’s office spokesperson Adam Linhardt told the Miami-Herald.
She had sustained recent “injuries indicative of being beaten,” the sheriff’s office stated, and was treated for them at the Lower Keys Medical Center in Key West on the night of the shooting.
Zimmerman’s account allegedly differed from those of his wife and stepson.
“Zimmerman gave detectives a conflicting story and claimed he was shot without warning, adding with expletives that once he was able to leave the hospital, he was going to kill his stepson,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Jail records show Zimmerman was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center on Tuesday and is being held on $75,000 bond, according to the Miami-Herald. His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 4.
