WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) – A man has been accused of shooting a man on his neck during a custody exchange of an 8-year-old boy at West Palm Beach Publix.
According to the affidavit, 28-year-old Joseph Halford was waiting in the parking lot Friday for his 8-year-old son to be dropped off by his child’s mother, Brittany Ferguson, and her boyfriend, Carlton Matthews.
Road Rage could have led to a shooting at Florida Publics, deputies say
Ferguson told West Palm Beach Police Department officials that her boyfriend parked the car next to Halfford and went out to meet Halford, who was already standing next to the car.
Halford claimed that his boyfriend used his index and middle finger to make a gun gesture and pressed it against his head. He told the officials he was just there to get his son and not deal with his boyfriend.
When the suspect’s son, Jacob, got out of his mother’s car, he grabbed the child and placed him in the back of the car. According to the affidavit, it was when the boyfriend told him, “I spare you for your son.”
After her ex-husband runs away, the child feels that her mother has died at home: agent
At that time, Halford pulled a semi-automatic 9mm Taurus from his left armpit and hit the man in his neck to fire a single shot. The affidavit said a gunshot hit the front of his throat and left the back of his neck. Meanwhile, Halford claimed that the firearm was pointing to the area of his head and chest, and that he had no intention of killing him.
Halford’s cousin says to authorities that he called her, appears to be “in panic” and asks her to come to Publix. He told her that her boyfriend reached towards his belt line and then fired a gun.
When police arrived, the victim was found with a gunshot wound and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Halford was arrested on attempted felony murder with a firearm. He is restrained without a bond.
