Arrest Made in Elfers Shooting, Victim Shot in Head

An Elfers man was charged with aggravated battery Sunday after after deputies say he shot another man, leaving him with a life-threatening injury.

Jerome Leake, 22, of Port Richey, was transported to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in critical condition early Saturday afternoon. 

Mathew Santos, 21, is charged with one count of aggravated battery.

Deputies say Leake was visiting Santos' home at 5145 Tilson Drive in Elfers when the shooting occurred around 12:22 p.m. Leake and Santos' were in Santos' bedroom when Leake asked for Santos' gun and Santos refused. According to an arrest affidavit, Leake then reached to grab the 380 semi-automatic pistol from Santos' hand, but did not get it.

Santos then shot Leake from a distance of three-to four-feet away. Leake had his head turned away from Santos at the time and the bullet entered above Leake's right ear and exited his head above his left ear.

Leake has no brain activity and is not expected to survive the shooting, according to the affidavit.

Santos initially told deputies that he accidentally shot Leake because Leake was demanding that he give him his gun. He then changed his statement and said he shot Leake in an effort to protect himself. Leake was not armed.

Deputies say Santos is an admitted gang member.

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