Man Shoots Son-In-Law to Death As Family Watches
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A3 SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM >> SUNDAY + PLUS RIP, Summer job hunt Ben heats up 1D Duke 1C TRAVEL TALES Opinion/4A Memorial Day marked at VA/3A Claims self-defense; state attorney doubtful WWII VET Man shoots son-in-law to 2A A DAY OF death as family watches MEMORIES FWHS grads’ trek begins High school behind them, now comes life 127 took the walk Photos by RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter Fort White High graduates Andrea and Rachel Steedley MICHAEL PHILIPS/Lake City Reporter at Arrowhead embrace after commencement exercises Friday night. World War II veteran Joseph M. Sampson, 94, poses with wife, Marianne, and his son Joseph Sampson By TONY BRITT Jr. outside the Lake City VA Medical Center. Joseph [email protected] and Marianne celebrate their 70th wedding anni- FORT WHITE — For 127 mem- versary today. bers of the Fort White High School class of 2019, their collective last memory of high school will be of Veteran recalls hugging classmates, family and friends while fireworks exploded overhead. Fort White High held the school’s his time at sea 19th annual commencement exer- By MICHAEL PHILIPS cises Friday night at Arrowhead [email protected] Stadium. During the ceremony students If you have ever had the pleasure of being regaled talked about memories created with war stories from a vet, you wonder how much of during their 13-year school career ABOVE: Co-valedictorians Kahnayla Taylor and Bethany Harris what you are being told is true and how much is play- ful exaggeration. and the opportunity each of them and salutatorian Andrea Steedley lead the pack of graduates have to create new memories as they The crew It was no different for the family move to the next stage of their lives. entering Arrowhead Stadium Friday night. The school gradu- and friends of Joseph M. Sampson, ated 127 students. TOP LEFT: Senior Class Pressident Cecily was on edge because 94. FWHS continued on 6A Griffis addresses students and guests at Arrowhead Stadium. reports were “He’d tell some of these stories, but rife of kami- we figured he strayed from the truth kaze pilots. sometimes,” his son Joseph Sampson Little did any- Jr. said. one suspect It was 1945, toward the end of Child’s rotting teeth, more land local pair in jail that there was World War II. The USS Gage, a an enemy in Haskell-class attack transport, was By CARL MCKINNEY only examples of bad parenting deputies their midst. in the Pacific. The crew was on edge [email protected] found in that household, according to a because reports were rife of kamikaze Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report. pilots — Japanese suicide bombers. A local school child kept showing up Joseph Lee Davis, 33, and Brenda Little did anyone suspect that there was an enemy in to school dirty, had rotting teeth and Keila Ziesmer, 36, face charges of child their midst. recently had stitches over a wound oozing Someone aboard had sabotaged the ship, tossing with pus — and those were far from the NEGLECT continued on 7A Davis Ziesmer VETERAN continued on 5A Vol. 145, No. 52 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Opinion . 4A (386) 752-1293 Sports . 1B Callum headed to Voorhees SUBSCRIBE TO Puzzles . 2-3B THE REPORTER: 99 69 Scholarship for softball, hoops, 1B Voice: 755-5445 Life . 1D Fax: 752-9400 Sunny, 2A Our Cleaning Solution Is Cleaner Carpet Cleaning Special and Safer for You and Your Pets. CARPET | TILE & GROUT | HARDWOOD | UPHOLSTERY 3 ROOMS ONLY 386-755-1992 $99 PROMO CODE: PET Cleaning Completed by 5/31/19. Must present coupon at time of cleaning. Residential only; cannot be used for water restoration services. Must present promo code at time of service. Valid at participating locations only. Combined living areas, Must meet minimum charge, residential only. L-shaped rooms and rooms over 300 sq. ft. are considered 2 areas. Baths, halls, large walk-in closets and area rugs are priced separately. Offer does not include protector. 2A SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2019 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER PROSECUTOR DOESN’T BUY IT QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day Man claims self-defense “For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.” — Psalm 71:5 (KJV) in shooting of son-in-law Thought for Today By CARL MCKINNEY Homan said his grand- Homan shot her husband dant,” the deputy wrote in Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of [email protected] child was present and upset and then stated, “you are the report. stolen goods. during the incident. not so big and tough now,” Third Circuit State — H. L. Mencken, 1880-1956, U.S. writer A Suwannee County Homan said he fired according to the report. Attorney Jeff Siegmeister man shot and killed his several shots into Bowers, A neighbor reported responded to the scene as son-in-law with a WWII- which hit “low,” the report hearing Homan say some- well. Siegmeister said there Winning Lottery Numbers era machine gun Thursday states. thing similar — “you’re not is no indication that the vic- Pick 3: (Friday p.m.) 5-5-6 night, deputies say. But Homan so big and bad tim had a knife during the Pick 4: (Friday p.m.) 8-7-6-1 John Christopher Homan, “was unable or tough now,” shooting. Fantasy 5: (Friday) 1-3-19-32-35 50, of 193rd Road, claimed to provide A total of the report A total of seven people he feared for his life when any viable seven people states. lived in the home. Bowers he killed statement or lived in the After the and his wife are both See an error? Jason information” home. Bowers shooting, employed. The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news Michael to convince and his wife Homan tried “I think it’s fair to say items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, Bowers, deputies the are both to strike there was tension over please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will accord- shooting was employed. Bowers with money and living arrange- run in this space. Thanks for reading. ing to a in self-defense, ‘I think it’s fair his hands, ments,” Siegmeister said. Suwannee according to to say there the neighbor Homan faces charges of County the report. told deputies. homicide and child abuse Submissions Homan was tension The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption Sheriff’s Deputies over money The neighbor without great bodily harm, information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would Office report. But deputies spoke with reportedly jail records show. and living like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture found Homan’s claim of Homan’s adult intervened, fir- A grand jury will review and information to [email protected]. self-defense unconvincing. daughter and arrangements,’ ing two warn- the evidence, according to When deputies respond- 13-year-old Siegmeister ing shots into Siegmeister. ed to the scene, Homan granddaugh- said. the ground of “We certainly don’t feel “freely admitted” the gun ter, who are his own yard. it’s justified,” Siegmeister Lake City Reporter was in the home and allowed the wife and Bowers died said. HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS ........... 754-0419 Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 authorities to retrieve the 9 daughter of Bowers. of his injuries in Shands Suwannee County Sheriff CIRCULATION mm firearm, according to The woman and child Live Oak Regional Medical Sam St. John said deputies Fax number ............ 752-9400 Circulation............. 755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter the report. both said Bowers never Center. There were three or looked into Homan’s crimi- Online .... www.lakecityreporter.com should be completed by 6:30 a.m. Homan admitted to kill- threatened Homan and they four gunshot wounds to his nal record and found little. The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 a.m. on Sunday. ing Bowers, claiming he didn’t know why Homan arm, chest and abdomen, “Only thing he had was of Community Newspapers Inc., is published Tuesday through Friday and Please call 386-755-5445 to report any feared for his life and the shot Bowers. according to the report. a traffic violation,” St. John Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, problems with your delivery service. FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at lives of his family members, The child said she was Homan was transported said. Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of In Columbia County, customers should the report states. Homan in the yard during the to Suwannee County jail, Circulation and The Associated Press. call before 10:30 a.m. to report a said Bowers “mentally shooting, standing between continuing to claim self-de- All material herein is property of the service error for same day re-delivery. Lake City Reporter. Reproduction in After 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery abused him, called him and Homan and Bowers. fense. whole or in part is forbidden without or service related credits will be issued. his disabled son names, and Just before the shooting, A deputy explained to the permission of the publisher. In all other counties where home delivery U.S. Postal Service No. 310-880. treated other family mem- Homan told her to duck and Homan that interviews is available, next day re-delivery or WE SALUTE OUR VETERANS! POSTMASTER: Send address changes service related credits will be issued. bers in the house badly,” get out of the way, the girl with other people indicat- to Lake City Reporter, P.O.