HAWTHORNE, Fla. – A 27-year-old man is facing an attempted homicide charge after authorities say he shot another man in Hawthorne on August 24.
Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at about 3:47 p.m. to a reported shooting in the 6000 block of SE 223rd Street. They found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg and recovered one 9mm shell casing nearby.
After undergoing surgery, the victim reportedly told a deputy that Adrion Keith Flowers had been upset with him for several weeks over the victim speaking with a woman at a local store. Earlier that day, the victim said, he and Flowers had a brief verbal exchange about the issue at the Family Dollar in Hawthorne, but the encounter did not initially escalate.
The victim said he was later driving his work truck along the road behind the Family Dollar when he heard someone tell him to stop. He pulled over, exited the truck, and saw Flowers approaching from behind a house.
According to the victim, Flowers showed him a firearm, pulled back the slide, and placed the gun in his waistband before the two began a “heated” argument. The victim said he believed they had resolved their disagreement and that tensions had eased, prompting him to walk back toward his truck.
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The victim said he kept watching Flowers until Flowers got into his car. As the victim turned to get into his truck, he heard Flowers’ vehicle move closer. When he looked back, he reportedly saw the driver’s-side window down, heard Flowers say something, and then saw him point the firearm and shoot. The victim suffered a broken femur, according to the report.
Flowers has been charged with attempted homicide without premeditation, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle. He was also booked on a probation violation. Records show Flowers has three non-violent felony convictions and seven misdemeanor convictions, including one violent misdemeanor. He is currently on probation for possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana. On September 9, Judge Denise Ferrero granted the State Attorney’s Office motion to hold Flowers without bail pending trial.