Media Release
From: Denise M. Moloney
Community/Media Relations Manager, 352-797-3609
Re: Detectives Investigating Shooting in Webster – 2020-00785
Date: January 8, 2020
On 01-07-2020 just before 11 p.m., Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies along with Hernando County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the Circle K convenience store located at 35075 Cortez Boulevard (US-301 and SR-50) in Ridge Manor regarding a Shooting.
A female called 9-1-1 to report she was transporting the victim from the scene of the Shooting to the parking lot of the Circle K.
Upon arrival at the Circle K, deputies met with the female caller and the victim. The victim was treated by paramedics then air-lifted to a local trauma center. The female provided a statement to detectives.
According to the female, she and the victim, along with another male, were at a residence on Goolsby Street in Webster (Hernando County). The victim, who has an RV on the property, was outside along with the female and the other male. The victim was walking around the property while the female and the other male were near the RV talking. A male voice called out a name then they heard a gunshot.
A few seconds after hearing the gunshot, the female observed the victim walking toward her – it appeared he had been shot. As the victim got closer, he collapsed.
The female assisted the victim to her vehicle and fled the area. She called 9-1-1 while driving, requesting law enforcement and fire rescue to meet with her at the Circle K.
While enroute to the scene, deputies located the other male walking in the area of US-301 and SR-50. The male was transported to the Circle K to be interviewed by detectives.
The male confirmed the information the female provided, adding that while standing by the RV, the female told him that she heard a male call his name. When he proceeded to the area of the property where the voice came from, he observed the suspect standing next to the victim. The suspect was holding a firearm at waist level and was pointing the firearm at the victim.
The male then observed the muzzle flash (from the firearm) as the suspect shot the victim. Both the victim and the witness fled from the immediate area.
The witness was confronted a few feet away by the suspect. The suspect told the witness (aka/the other male) “You better leave if you don’t wanna get shot too.” The witness, in fear for his life, fled the property on foot.
Deputies arrived on scene and attempted to contact the suspect. The suspect refused to answer the door or exit the residence.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to the scene along with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team. The Sumter County SWAT team brought along their BearCat armored vehicle.
A search warrant was obtained for the residence on Goolsby Street and an arrest warrant was obtained for the resident, Timothy Burkhardt.
After numerous attempts to get Burkhardt to exit the residence and/or comply with lawful commands all met with negative results, the Sumter County SWAT team deployed the BearCat to breach the residence (see video on HCSO Facebook page). Burkhardt quickly decided to exit the residence. He was immediately taken into custody.
Detectives are interviewing Burkhardt at this time.
The victim is listed in stable condition.
Additional information will be provided when available.
As per Marsy’s Law, the address of the incident and the identity of the victims have been withheld.
Contributed by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
