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CLAY COUNTY, FL — An early morning confrontation in a Clay County neighborhood ended with a homeowner holding a suspect at gunpoint after firing a warning shot during an attempted air conditioner theft.

As reported by WOKV, the incident took place near the intersection of Devilwood Street and Discovery Drive. A homeowner awoke to sounds outside and discovered someone attempting to remove a window-mounted air conditioning unit from his residence. He armed himself with a shotgun and went outside to investigate.

Upon confronting the suspect, the individual reportedly began walking toward the homeowner. In response, the homeowner discharged a warning shot into the ground and held the suspect at gunpoint until deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrived. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. No injuries were reported.

While the theft of an essential appliance like an AC unit may feel urgent enough to justify immediate action, leaving the safety of your home to confront a suspect introduces additional risk. Had the suspect been armed or more aggressive, the outcome could have been far worse.

The use of warning shots is also a legally complex and potentially dangerous tactic. According to USACarry.com’s article on warning shots, firing a shot intended to warn or deter can still lead to criminal charges such as reckless discharge or unlawful use of a firearm—depending on state and local laws. Even when no one is harmed, a warning shot can be considered use of deadly force under the law.

Fortunately, this incident ended without injury and with law enforcement taking the suspect into custody. Stories like this remind us all of the importance

of staying vigilant, knowing the law, and carefully thinking through how we would respond to similar situations before they occur.