POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Sheriff Grady Judd believes a Ft. Meade man defended himself Monday night when he shot 3 men on his porch; one of those men died.
According to Sheriff Judd, the argument started over a dog. He said Calvin Johnson, 30, accused Charles Peddycoart, 48, and Peddycoart’s girlfriend of taking his dog.
“They never had the dog. The dog followed them (to the) store. (A) 15-year-old kid picks the dog up (and) puts it in the car. They take it 7.9 miles home,” Sheriff Judd said.
Sheriff Judd said Johnson, Teconsa Tyre McDonald, and Edward Burgess surrounded the couple on their porch, lunging at them. Sheriff Judd said Peddycoart fired.
“What this is…is self-defense when he feared for his life and his girlfriend,” Sheriff Judd said.
Johnson and Burgess are in the hospital. McDonald died. The sheriff said this incident should never have escalated the way it did.
“If Calvin thought that these people had stolen their dog he simply had to pick the phone up and say 'I think somebody stole my dog,'” Sheriff Judd said.
Sheriff Judd called the death investigation a horrible situation.
The case is being turned over to the State Attorney’s office. The investigation continues.
Sheriff Judd said the dog, Princess, will be given to Johnson’s mother.
