Sumter man in custody after reportedly shooting at neighbors, killing dog

A Sumter County man is in custody and facing multiple charges after reportedly firing several shots into a neighboring house on Amanda Circle while it was occupied on Friday evening.

David Anthony Davis, 37, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, discharging a weapon into a dwelling, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and ill treatment of animals, said Deputy Adrienne Sarvis, public information officer for the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to Amanda Circle off of Kolb Road  around 7:30 p.m. after they received a call about a verbal confrontation between neighbors and that a male subject had discharged a firearm multiple times. Deputies were also advised that the subject, Davis, admitted to shooting and killing the neighbor’s dog.

Sarvis said Davis fired multiple shots through the front door of the neighbor’s house before going into his own residence prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

Two other individuals —a woman and a male child—were also inside the residence with Davis, according to Sarvis. They were removed from the house without incident with the help of deputies.

Neighboring houses were evacuated, and a perimeter was established around Davis’ residence.

A Sumter County Sheriff’s Office negotiator contacted Davis by phone and talked with him for more than an hour in an attempt to get Davis to exit the house peacefully. Davis was heavily intoxicated and did not exit the house on his own, Sarvis said.

The Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.) deployed gas cannisters into the residence to force Davis to exit. When Davis did not exit the house, a decision was made to have S.E.R.T. enter the residence to take Davis into custody.

Davis was arrested without incident and was transported to Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center, where he remains, Sarvis said. His bond was denied.