HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – A Brooksville man will spend at least the next quarter-century in prison after being sentenced on June 15, 2026, for his role in a motel shooting.
Joshua Worley, born December 22, 1990, received a 35-year sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections. Due to the charges, Worley must serve a 25-year minimum mandatory sentence before he is eligible for release.
The case stems from an incident on November 27, 2024. Hernando County Sheriff’s Office deputies rushed to the Sunset Motel on South Broad Street in Brooksville after receiving reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, deputies found a victim suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound to the abdomen. Officers immediately performed life-saving measures on the scene until medical personnel arrived to transport the victim to a regional trauma center for emergency surgery.
According to the subsequent investigation, an altercation broke out at the motel, during which Worley pulled out a shotgun and fired it.
Worley fled the scene on foot immediately after the weapon was discharged. However, responding deputies located him nearby and took him into custody shortly after arriving at the area. Detectives solidified the case against Worley using physical evidence, witness interviews, and statements collected at the scene.
During the investigation, authorities also verified that Worley was a convicted felon. Because of his criminal record, he was barred by law from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
Following the sentencing, local authorities recognized the teamwork required to secure the conviction. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office released a statement noting that the agency commends “the efforts of the deputies, detectives, and prosecutors whose work contributed to the successful resolution of this case.”
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