Man allegedly points firearm at neighbors and fires several rounds

A Fruitland Park man was arrested after allegedly pointing a revolver at his neighbors and firing several rounds. 

Deputies responded to shots fired at Mirror Lake Village in Fruitland Park around 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The female victim advised that a family member of the next-door neighbor, later identified as 41-year-old Francis Devon Cuyler, pointed a gun in her face and fired four rounds.

The victim recounted Cuyler firing rounds from a silver revolver. When she confronted him, he threatened to hit her and pointed the firearm in her face. She turned to call the police, terrified she and a second victim would be shot in the back, the report said. 

Deputies then spoke to the second victim who was hiding in the wood line behind the residence. He stated he was sitting behind the dumpster when he saw headlights on the opposite side. He then heard a male voice ask why he was behind the dumpster and tell him to get out from behind it. The man, Cuyler, fired multiple shots in his direction as he fled into the woods to hide from him, the report said. 

One of the deputies also spoke to a neighbor who heard the gunshots. The victims knew Cuyler as “Fats,” and she advised that he was her nephew. She also confirmed he drove a black SUV, the report said. 

A search through law enforcement databases led to deputies finding the license plate number of the SUV. It had been documented about a mile from the residence about nine minutes after everything happened. It also showed his address was in the neighborhood, the report said. 

Indeed, at about 11:50 p.m., deputies saw the SUV in the driveway and handcuffed Cuyler. They spoke to his wife who advised that he had been in an altercation with the second victim a few days prior. She was surprised the deputies were not at the residence for that reason. She also stated he had a stroke sometime in January, the report said. 

Cuyler was charged with two counts of aggravated assault without intent to kill and transported to Lake County Jail. He was released after posting $10,000 bond.