Tavaris Dasean Allen, 22, Milton, was arrested for felony charges including Firing a Deadly Missile into an Occupied Dwelling or Vehicle, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Possession of an Altered Firearm and Possession of a Short-Barreled Gun, according to reports.
Friday, members of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office patrol division responded to an incident to a report of a shooting. The victim said he went to confront a male subject he identified as selling drugs to his girlfriend. According to reports, the victim said, when he arrived at the residence, he engaged in an argument with a male later identified as Tavaris Allen. During the argument, Allen produced a weapon the victim described as a sawed-off shotgun from a white Mustang parked at the residence, reports said. The victim said Allen ordered him out of his vehicle, according to the report, and approached it pointing the weapon at him and said, “I am going to kill you.” Reports said the victim attempted to drive off south before Allen fired a shot striking the rear of the victim’s vehicle and shattering the rear window. The victim said he then saw Allen enter the residence and exit with another subject, leaving in the Mustang.
Reports said patrol officers received no answer at the door to the residence but established a perimeter. Law enforcement found and detained both subjects after finding the Mustang a short time after the shooting.
Reports said patrol officers found a small quantity of marijuana on Allen and marijuana residue in the Mustang. The other subject who rode with Allen identified Allen as the shooter, but Allen denied owning a shotgun and knew nothing about a shooting, deputies said. Deputies report Allen said the only thing he did was get high on weed, but then said he did own a shotgun purchased from someone named ‘Coop.’
According to reports, both subjects were transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail while the investigation continued. With the execution of a warrant, the shotgun was recovered as indicated by another subject, according to reports. The weapon in question was a shotgun with the barrel cut down well below the required length by both Florida State Statute and Federal law, reports said, as well as the serial number scratched off.
A subject interviewed at the Sheriff’s Office, post-Miranda, said Allen sells drugs including marijuana and ‘Molly.’ The subject also said Allen has had the shotgun over a month and keeps it in a book bag or hides it under the couch. According to reports, Allen, when interviewed at the Sheriff’s Office, changed his statement, post-Miranda, but denied shooting the firearm at any person. Allen is held without bond pending first appearance.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SRSO: Man arrested firing sawed-off shotgun