A Florida man is behind bars after attempting to kill his grandmother by shooting her in the neck according to law enforcement.
At a press conference on Thursday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that Byron Quintez Dexter, 21, had been taken into custody for shooting his grandmother, Annie Parish, in the neck with a .22 caliber handgun.
Judd said that the 21-year-old told investigators various things about his actions, including “I killed a black queen so I won the game” and “I killed the devil.”
“About a quarter to 7, he comes out of his bedroom with a semi-automatic handgun, points it at his 16-year-old sister, and said ‘what’s going on?” Sheriff Grady Judd said during the press conference.
In response, the man’s sister quickly took several younger children from the home. Dexter then turned and opened fire on Parish, who had been sitting at a table nearby, and immediately fled.
“His mother was in the room, heard the commotion,” Judd continued. “She got into the room just in time to see Byron fleeing out of the home, gun in hand.”
Parish was flown via helicopter to Tampa General Hospital.
Judd said that she survived the shooting but was reported to be in critical condition.
A bullet had become lodged in her spine, but she had not been paralyzed, according to Judd.
Deputies found Dexter riding his bike on Highway 37 and arrested him.
Investigators say the handgun was still in his possession when he was taken into custody. He now faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, carrying a concealed firearm, and shooting into/in an occupied dwelling.
According to Sheriff Judd, Dexter had no criminal history but did have a history of mental health problems.
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