A 10-year-old boy fled his Florida home and called his father from outside a neighbor's residence, saying he believed he was being followed, after witnessing his mother's boyfriend allegedly attack the woman and threaten to murder her in front of him, according to authorities.
Background
The incident occurred on Red Heart Lane in Tamarac when Broward County Sheriff's Office deputies responded shortly before 7:30 p.m. to a call from the boy's father reporting a suspicious incident involving his child, according to a probable cause affidavit. The father told dispatchers his son had called him while standing at a neighbor's home because he feared someone was pursuing him.
Court records state the boy told investigators he had been inside the residence when his mother returned with bottles of alcohol. Shortly afterward, she and William Adam Lamkin began arguing before the confrontation escalated to violence.
The Charges
Lamkin, 45, was arrested Tuesday in Broward County following the incident. He faces one count each of domestic assault, domestic battery and resisting an officer with violence, according to booking records.
The probable cause affidavit details how the boy's mother told investigators that Lamkin had grabbed her by the shirt while she sat in a vehicle and threatened to murder her. When asked whether she believed he would carry out the threat, she responded, 'Of course,' according to court documents.
Deputies say Lamkin allegedly approached the woman after she returned home from shopping at Publix, ordered her back into the driver's seat, pushed her against the seat and punched her in the arm. Investigators say he then stated: 'I am going to ask you this question one time and one time only, and every time you give me that b---- answer, I will punch you again.'
The woman told deputies she had received multiple text messages from Lamkin demanding she return home immediately while she was shopping, the affidavit states. Neighbors attempted to intervene as Lamkin became increasingly agitated and appeared to move toward them in what investigators described as an apparent attempt to instigate a confrontation.
When deputies arrived at the residence, the woman initially seemed reluctant to discuss the incident before becoming visibly shaken after learning officers had already spoken with her son, according to court records. She ultimately confirmed Lamkin had grabbed her shirt and threatened her life while she was in the vehicle.
Key Takeaways
- William Adam Lamkin, 45, is charged with domestic assault, domestic battery and resisting an officer with violence
- The alleged attack occurred in front of the woman's 10-year-old son, who fled the home and called his father for help
- Deputies say the mother told them 'He will kill me, he's a psycho' as Lamkin allegedly sent her threatening text messages while officers were present
- A judge set Lamkin's bond at $32,500 following his arrest
What's Next
Lamkin remains in custody at the Broward County Jail. Court records did not indicate when he was scheduled to appear before a judge for his first appearance on the domestic violence charges.