LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (CBS12) — A Lehigh Acres man accused of firing shots inside a home, assaulting family members, and shooting at deputies during a pursuit is facing multiple felony charges following a deputy-involved shooting early Thursday.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said that its deputies responded just after midnight to a home on Willowbrook Drive for reports of a domestic disturbance involving an armed man. Investigators said 32-year-old Joe Christopher Simmons Jr. allegedly fired a handgun inside the occupied residence while several family members were inside.
Witnesses told deputies Simmons had been acting erratically and claimed he was shooting at “ghosts” in the home, according to the sheriff’s office. Family members attempted to calm him down, but investigators said he became angry and allegedly struck one relative in the jaw and headbutted another before leaving the scene in a gray Jeep Cherokee.
Deputies responded just after midnight to a home on Willowbrook Drive for reports of a domestic disturbance involving an armed man. Investigators said 32-year-old Joe Christopher Simmons Jr. allegedly fired a handgun inside the occupied residence while several family members were inside. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Deputies later located Simmons and attempted a traffic stop, but authorities said he refused to stop, leading deputies on a pursuit through Lehigh Acres.
According to investigators, Simmons fired shots at deputies during the chase near Greenbriar Boulevard and Richmond Avenue North. At both locations, two deputies returned fire.
The pursuit ended on Wilby Lane when Simmons crashed into a ditch, causing the Jeep to flip onto its hood in the backyard of a residence, LCSO said.
Deputies responded just after midnight to a home on Willowbrook Drive for reports of a domestic disturbance involving an armed man. Investigators said 32-year-old Joe Christopher Simmons Jr. allegedly fired a handgun inside the occupied residence while several family members were inside. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators said Simmons then barricaded himself inside the overturned vehicle for nearly two and a half hours before deputies, assisted by the sheriff’s office Aviation Unit and Agency Tactical Support Unit, took him into custody.
No injuries were reported among Simmons, family members or law enforcement officers, according to the sheriff’s office.
During the investigation, detectives determined Simmons was allegedly connected to multiple shootings that occurred Wednesday night before the domestic disturbance. Those incidents remain under investigation by the sheriff’s office Violent Crimes Unit.
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Sheriff Carmine Marceno praised deputies and specialized units involved in the arrest.
This suspect put his own family, responding deputies, and our community in danger with his reckless and violent actions numerous times.”
“Thanks to the swift response of our deputies, Aviation, ATSU, VCU and MCU detectives, he’s behind bars where he belongs and will now face the consequences of his actions,” Marceno said.
Deputies responded just after midnight to a home on Willowbrook Drive for reports of a domestic disturbance involving an armed man. Investigators said 32-year-old Joe Christopher Simmons Jr. allegedly fired a handgun inside the occupied residence while several family members were inside. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
Simmons is charged with attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, shooting into an occupied dwelling, shooting into an occupied conveyance related to an earlier incident, and two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery.
The two deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure following an officer-involved shooting, the sheriff’s office said.