Gunfight breaks out in living room as family argues about smoking, Florida cops say

A family debate over smoking in the house turned vicious when a woman and her son pulled guns and started shooting at each other in the living room, according to investigators in north Florida.

It happened Monday, Feb. 3, in Starke, and the two shooters emerged unscathed, along with a 12-year-old in the home, the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office said in a Feb. 3 news release. Starke is about a 45-mile drive southwest from Jacksonville.

A 911 caller summoned deputies to the home after reporting 66-year-old Judy Crews Lee and 46-year-old Michael Shiloh Lee were “firing rounds at each other,” Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith said in the release.

“Investigation revealed that while in the living room of the residence Judy Lee was smoking a cigarette while sitting in the chair. Michael Lee reports that he has asthma and began spraying ‘Febreze’,” Smith said.

“Judy Lee was in possession of a handgun which she pulled and began firing several rounds at Michael Lee. Michael then retreated to his bedroom and took possession of his own handgun. He returned to the living room and fired several rounds at his mother, Judy Lee.”

She fled to a neighbor’s house, officials said. The 12-year-old’s whereabouts in the house were not disclosed.

Judy Lee was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony child neglect without great bodily harm, jail records show.

Michael Lee was arrested and charged with felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony child neglect without great bodily harm, felony drug possession and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession.

This story was originally published February 4, 2025 at 7:50 AM with the headline "Gunfight breaks out in living room as family argues about smoking, Florida cops say."