Jason Sheffield, a 30-year-old husband and father of four, was killed in his Naples neighborhood after his neighbor allegedly mistook him for a bear attacking chickens and opened fire, authorities said.
Background
The shooting occurred overnight on March 27 in the 2700 block of 8th Street SE in Collier County. According to investigators with the Collier County Sheriff's Office, Ariel Gonzalez Rodriguez, 25, told detectives he was sleeping on his couch when his girlfriend woke him up, saying she heard a noise outside near their chicken coop.
Rodriguez grabbed a small-caliber rifle and fired several warning shots into the air before going back inside to retrieve a more powerful firearm, according to the probable cause arrest affidavit. He told investigators he continued hearing movement and believed whatever was making the noise "began walking directly toward" him.
The suspect then fired one shot in the direction of the sound—which authorities determined was also toward Sheffield's property—before the noise stopped. Rodriguez admitted he never saw what he was shooting at, according to the affidavit.
The Investigation
When morning came, Rodriguez walked over to investigate the area near his chicken coop but didn't immediately find anything. He then went to Sheffield's adjacent property and discovered his neighbor lying face down on the ground with a gunshot wound to his back, blood soaking through his shirt.
Rodriguez called 911 shortly before 8:30 a.m., frantically telling dispatchers he thought he had been shooting at a bear. An autopsy later determined Sheffield died from a large-caliber gunshot wound to the back.
Investigators found multiple shell casings from two different caliber firearms at the scene. After receiving his Miranda rights, Rodriguez explained his actions and showed investigators a photo of himself and Sheffield grilling together the night before the shooting—evidence, he said, that they had no prior issues between them.
After a four-month investigation, authorities concluded Rodriguez's conduct was "culpably negligent."
The Charges
Rodriguez has been charged with manslaughter with a firearm in connection with Sheffield's death. He was arrested on Tuesday and is being held in the Collier County Jail without bond.
In their probable cause affidavit, detectives wrote that by firing "a lethal weapon in a residential area" at an unidentified target during nighttime hours "without confirming the target's identity or ensuring the area beyond the target was clear," Rodriguez engaged in conduct that "grossly deviated from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person and demonstrated a reckless disregard for the safety of others."
Key Takeaways
- Jason Sheffield, 30, was killed on March 27 in Naples after his neighbor allegedly mistook him for a bear near a chicken coop
- Ariel Gonzalez Rodriguez, 25, has been charged with manslaughter with a firearm and is held without bond
- Investigators found shell casings from two different caliber firearms at the scene
- Sheffield leaves behind a wife and four children
What's Next
Rodriguez's next scheduled court appearances are set for Aug. 4 and Aug. 24 in Collier County Circuit Court, where he will face the manslaughter charge stemming from the fatal shooting.