- September 13, 2024
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At approximately 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 24, Deputy Zalak was dispatched to a residence on County Road 305 in Bunnell after a resident reported hearing gunfire coming from the direction of his neighbors’ house, about three lots over, through his wooded property line. He stated that both his vehicle and house had been hit, and the gunfire lasted for approximately 20 minutes before stopping.
The victim’s GMC Yukon Denali had five bullet holes near the rear driver and passenger doors and the windows had been shattered from the bullets. Deputies also observed at least four bullet holes in the garage door where the Yukon was parked and in the carport.
As deputies were on scene investigating, the gunfire resumed, and rounds were heard coming through the wooded area towards the general direction of the deputies. The rounds could be heard whizzing close by and hitting nearby trees in very close proximity to where deputies were on scene.
Flagler County FireFlight was launched and assisted in locating the subjects, identified as Keith and Molly Stanton, at a neighboring house. It was determined they were target shooting without a berm and the rounds were traveling through the wooded area between the properties.
Keith stated that he and his wife Molly were shooting a single action 38 revolver that held six rounds in the direction of a burnt and rotted wood pile from their porch. He believed the wood pile was a sufficient berm and that he only needed to be 500 yards away from the closest house; however, the residence of the victim was visible from his wood line. Additionally, the wood pile did not appear to have fresh bullet holes, but deputies found multiple holes from what appeared to bullets on trees, approximately 7-10 feet off the ground.
The deputies observed approximately 14, .223 spent cartridges, as well as a spent 9mm shell casing in bushes near the suspect’s porch that he had told deputies he was shooting from. Also observed on the porch were two bullets of separate unknown calibers, on a table.
Based on the information and evidence collected at the scene, charges on both Keith and Molly Stanton were submitted to the State Attorney’s office for culpable negligence.
“Thankfully, nobody, including my deputies, was hurt or killed because of the irresponsibility and disregard for safety that was shown by these two,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I commend the great teamwork shown by Flagler County Fireflight and our deputies.”
