[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 07/30/20]
LEESBURG, Florida — A broken Colt 45 bottle and a can of gasoline were a Leesburg woman’s weapons of choice against a man who she believed was spending time with her girlfriend, according to the victim.
Matasha McCray, 27, is accused of pouring gas around a man’s trees near his porch, breaking a Colt 45 bottle and throwing it at the man, cutting his ankle, according to an arrest affidavit.
The victim told Leesburg Police around 12:15 p.m. Sunday, McCray was upset because she believed he had her girlfriend in his house or had been with her girlfriend. McCray approached him and the victim reminded her she had already been trespassed from his residence. McCray allegedly picked up a red gas can and began pouring gas around his trees and in his front yard near his porch, and said, “I’m gonna burn this place down,” the affidavit states.
According to the victim, he and some other people poured water on the gas as McCray tried to light it and then she grabbed a Colt 45 bottle, the victim told police. McCray broke the bottle against some bricks and began chasing the victim; as he ran away McCray threw the bottle at him, striking his ankle and causing a 2 to 3-inch laceration, according to the affidavit. The victim was transported to UF Health Leesburg for treatment.
A witness told police the victim allows the defendant in his home often, including Sunday. The witness said McCray became upset with a female in the house and the argument “spilled out into the yard.” He said McCray did pour the gas but did not try to light it. McCray then chased the victim with the broken bottle and threw it at him, the witness told police.
McCray was taken into custody and began “yelling, screaming and thrashing around,” on the way to the Lake County Jail and had to be restrained in a “special chair” after being uncooperative with detention deputies, according to the affidavit.
She was charged with aggravated battery with bodily harm and aggravated assault; she is being held on $10,000 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
