A Citra man who claimed he was attacked at a store and then allegedly wounded a woman with a handgun is behind bars in the Marion County Jail.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies scrambled to a home on NE 77th Terrace Rd. in Citra on Thursday after receiving a call of a domestic dispute with shots fired. When they arrived, they found 48-year-old Robert Wayne Lyons in the front yard. He was uncooperative and quickly stated that he wanted a lawyer before being detained, a sheriff’s office report states.
Lyons’ mother, who called deputies to the home, said that he had gone to a nearby store and when he returned, he “appeared anxious and scared.” She said he claimed he had been attacked by multiple people at the store and had a gun pulled on him. She said he claimed to have fought the gun away from them and used it on one of his attackers, the report says.
When pressed for further information, Lyons’ mother said he became “upset and extremely agitated.” She said he then went outside and returned a short time later with a silver handgun that he had fired in the front yard at least twice, the report says.
One victim told deputies that Lyons pointed the handgun at her and said, “I’m trying to kill you.” Another victim attempted to intervene and the firearm discharged, causing a small laceration to her left hand. That victim said she was “in great fear” that Lyons intended to “cause her great bodily harm,” the report says.
Several people then struggled to take the handgun away from Lyons, but he broke free and then fired a bullet into the wall of the residence near the front door. He then pointed the gun at a man who also claimed to be in fear that Lyons was going to hurt him, the report says.
Eventually the group was able to wrestle the handgun away from Lyons and he was forced into the front yard until deputies arrived. He was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was charged with assault with intent to commit a felony, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, launching a missile into a dwelling, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon and using or displaying a firearm during a felony.
Lyons was being held on $39,000 bond and is due in court Sept. 3 at 9 a.m. to answer to the charges. A criminal history check showed that he had two prior convictions for felony charges in Florida – robbery by force on May 26, 1994 in Miami-Dade County and an attempt to purchase crack cocaine on June 1, 1998 in Collier County.