Keys Woman Disarms Man Who Threatened Her With Gun on U.S. 1

Charles Durand Wilkinson, 77, drew a revolver and told a woman he would shoot her while the two traveled along U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 38 on Saturday afternoon. She took the gun away.

The woman stopped the vehicle during the confrontation, physically wrestled the revolver from Wilkinson's hands, and threw it into roadside brush before Monroe County Sheriff's deputies reached the scene at approximately 2:50 p.m. on March 28. Deputies located the firearm in the brush and arrested Wilkinson of Okeechobee without further incident.

Investigators say Wilkinson retrieved the weapon during what they characterized as a domestic confrontation and told the woman, "I aught to shoot you." No serious injuries were reported.

Wilkinson was booked on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony under Florida law that can carry enhanced penalties depending on the circumstances and the defendant's prior record. Because the confrontation was classified as domestic in nature, MCSO investigations of this type routinely involve domestic violence and weapons units. The alleged threat may also set protective order proceedings in motion for the victim.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office will forward the case to the State Attorney's Office for charging decisions and prosecution. No bail amount or arraignment date had been released as of Tuesday. The victim's identity was not disclosed in initial law enforcement statements.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.