Florida
Florida sheriff says home invaders “should expect to be shot”
Home invaders “should expect to be shot,” a Florida sheriff has said, after a homeowner opened fire on two suspected intruders on Thursday night, one of whom later died.
“The bottom line is, this is the state of Florida,” Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells told reporters during a press conference on Friday. “You want to break into someone’s home, you should expect to be shot.”
Why It Matters
In 2005, Florida passed the “Stand Your Ground” law, which removed the duty to retreat from an intruder when acting in purported self-defense in the home if the home-dweller reasonably believed that they were in danger.
The Stand Your Ground law is widely associated with the 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old killed in Florida by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain who claimed he was acting in self-defense, according to ProPublica. He was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, but was acquitted by a jury.
What To Know
Sheriff Wells said on Friday that local authorities received a call about shots being fired at roughly 9 p.m. on Thursday night in the Lakewood Ranch area, south of Tampa.
The homeowner, who has not been named, told deputies on the scene that two masked men had attempted to break into the property, and that he had shot one of the intruders, Wells said. The injured intruder was still in the property when authorities arrived, while the other had fled the scene, the sheriff said.
Andri Tambunan/AFP via Getty Images
The homeowner was alerted by cameras outside the house, and told his wife to find a safe space while grabbing his firearm, Wells said.
The homeowner fired at least three shots at the suspect, while the other suspect climbed halfway through a window before retreating, the sheriff said. The latter was later found four blocks from the scene, Wells said.
The suspect who was shot later died at 7 a.m. on Friday morning after being admitted to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, authorities said.
In a later written statement, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said the surviving suspect had been identified as 39-year-old Michel Soto-Mella, who had arrived in the U.S. from Chile.
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
Wells said during the press conference, before authorities named Soto-Mella, that the surviving suspect arrived in California from Chile “a few months ago” and outstayed a 90-day visa.
The surviving suspect was “somewhat cooperative,” Wells said, but added he was “not telling us everything.”
Soto-Mella has been charged with armed burglary, with additional charges pending, the sheriff’s office said.
Wells said authorities had no information on why the house was targeted, nor the motive behind the home invasion.
The deceased suspect was named as 27-year-old Jorge Nestevan Flores-Toledo, also known by the name Anibal Miller-Valencia.
Flores-Toledo, from Mexico, was born in 2001, the sheriff’s office said.
He had been arrested in Oak Brook, Illinois, back in 2023, and had served four months in jail for residential burglary, authorities said. Flores-Toledo was released last month, the sheriff’s office said, adding there was an active warrant out for parole violation and Flores-Toledo was considered armed and dangerous.
What Happens Next
The sheriff’s office said detectives believed “there may be other individuals involved in this crime.”
As investigations continue, anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the sheriff’s office.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)— A Florida mental health counselor walked into a surprising number of bats inside her office last week.
“We had about 50 bats. In the toilet, in the sink. All over,” Shaltala Boss, a licensed mental health counselor, said.
Boss has since moved her office due to maternity season, when it is illegal to exclude or remove bats from April 16 to August 14, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“Any form of eviction during this time period will result in baby bats being trapped along with adult bats that may not have emerged. Trapped bats will attempt to escape and may end up in the living space of buildings,” FWC said.
Video provided by Boss showed a bat lying on the ground.
“You definitely didn’t want to come to counseling that day,” Boss said.
Boss has since moved to another location and said it is bat-free.
“Most bats will avoid humans at all costs and use natural roosting structures for shelter during the day. However, bats sometimes find their way into our homes and structures, which can present a health hazard,” FWC said.
Republican Congressman Byron Donalds is trailing Democratic candidate David Jolly in the race to become Florida’s next governor, according to a new poll from Change Research, a Democratic-aligned polling firm.
The survey could be an encouraging sign for Florida Democrats, who have not won a statewide election since 2018 and have struggled as the state shifted steadily toward Republicans in recent election cycles.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection in 2026, won a second term by nearly 20 percentage points in 2022, while Republicans have expanded their voter registration advantage and maintained control of every statewide elected office.
Still, some recent polling has suggested the push to replace DeSantis could be a bit more competitive than many have expected.
President Donald Trump last month again vocalized his support for Donalds, saying in part, “I know Byron well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a TOTAL WINNER!” The president added, “Byron Donalds will be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”
Trump won the Sunshine State by 13 points in 2024 against then-Vice President Kamala Harris and no Democrat has won the Florida governorship in more than 20 years.
When reached for comment regarding the new poll, Donalds’ campaign referred Newsweek to the X post of Gates McGavick, the team’s communications director. McGavick said in reaction to the poll, “I hear Change Research also sells tremendous ocean front property in Arizona.”
The campaign also referred Newsweek to Ryan Smith’s post on X, while saying he is also affiliated with the campaign. Smith said, “This is a push poll by Democrats for Democrats. The truth is, Florida Democrats will be crying in their kombucha on November 3 when @ByronDonalds is elected governor.”
What To Know
The Change Research survey found Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties and entered the race as a Democrat, leading Donalds in a hypothetical general-election matchup.
Jolly has centered his campaign on affordability issues surrounding insurance costs, housing and healthcare, while Donalds has campaigned as a conservative successor who will attempt to enact Trump’s agenda and fight illegal immigration.
According to the poll, Jolly leads Donalds 47 percent to 42 percent and has a slightly larger margin among likely voters with 49 percent compared to 43 percent.
The poll surveyed 1,273 registered voters of which 1,015 said they will likely vote in the 2026 midterm election. The survey’s margin of error is 2.8 percent.
Also in the poll, Jolly garners 94 percent support from Democrats compared to Donalds’ 77 percent among Republicans.
What Other Polls Show
Another recent Change Research poll shows Jolly leading Donalds 46 percent to 42 percent. The poll was taken from May 13 to May 16 among 2,070 registered voters, of whom 1,593 say they will likely vote in the midterm election. The poll has a margin of error of 2.3 percent.
In a survey at the end of March by Emerson College Polling, Donalds landed 44 percent of the vote compared to Jolly’s 39 percent. The poll shows that 17 percent are undecided. It was taken from March 29 to March 31 among 1,125 likely voters and has a margin of error of 2.8 percent.
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A recent viral trend — dubbed the “Door Kick Challenge” — has been causing issues as of late in Central Florida.
The challenge involves teens covering their faces, kicking or pounding stranger’s front door when it’s dark outside, and sprinting off into the night.
[WATCH: FCSO releases footage of ‘Door Kick Challenge’ in action]
But on Wednesday, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly warned there could be deadly consequences.
According to the sheriff’s office, these pranks may come across as an attempted home invasion for some, and with Florida being a “Stand Your Ground” state, neighbors have the right to treat it as such.
[ Central Florida deputy consoles 12-year-old accused in door-kicking incident]
“Parents, keep an eye on your children. We know they want to have fun, but they are taking huge risks when they mask up and kick strangers’ doors,” Staly said. “Be the sheriff of your own home, talk to your kids, know their friends, and make sure they know the risks associated with doing what the internet tells them to do.”
But in a release, the sheriff’s office delivered the message in a “language” that teens may better understand:
“This door kick ‘challenge’ is not the side quest you think it is.
It’s trendslop, pure brain rot straight off the FYP. You think you’re the alpha chad of the cul-de-sac? Nah bruh, you’re one hoodie masked-up sprint away from priors. The kind of rap that gets you cancelled before you ever stack any clout. Zero drip in our jail’s barbershop-looking mugshots.
Okay, real talk. Florida is a Stand Your Ground state. A NPC wakes up to two randos kicking their door at 1 a.m. wearing sheisties — they don’t see a flex, they get the ick, and think your side quest is a home invasion. And no cap, you’ll get capped.
Taking an L on TikTok? Recoverable. Taking a round to the chest? There’s no respawn.
So skip this one, chief. Find clout elsewhere.”
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.
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