LABELLE — On March 1, 2022 Corporal Hull from the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the corner of Avalon Avenue and Nobles Road in reference to a report of gunshots. The caller stated that his vehicle had broken down in the area and a resident had shot in the air then pointed a gun at him while yelling for him to leave.

Upon arrival, Corporal Hull made contact with the 37-year-old male and his father. The driver stated that his vehicle had broken down in that spot and his father was helping him get it started.

The deputy asked the driver which house the shots had come from, and he pointed to it. He stated that an older white male had begun to yell for them to get out of there before shooting what appeared to be a black handgun in the air, the man then pointed the firearm in their direction multiple times while continuing to yell for them to leave.

Sgt. Hernandez and Corporal Hull approached the home and gave commands for the suspect to show his hands. The man, identified as 60-year-old John Pelham of LaBelle, left the porch wearing only a towel and spoke to Sgt Hernandez. Deputies located a loaded Beretta 9mm handgun concealed under a pillow that Pelham had been sitting on when they made contact.

When asked what happened, Pelham stated that he had only yelled at the father and son to leave since they were blocking the roadway. He then changed his mind and stated that he shot his handgun into the ground to scare them off. Deputies assisted Pelham in dressing, as he appeared to be unstable on his feet.

Pelham was arrested on the following charges, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, discharging a firearm in a residential area and discharging a firearm while intoxicated. He is currently being held in the Hendry County Jail on a bond of $27,500.