Volusia County man shoots ex-wife, stepson over electricity

A man enraged that his ex-wife and stepson removed a lock from a breaker box to turn on the electricity in the house shot them both dead Sunday night at a home near DeLand, Volusia County sheriff's investigators said.

The victims were Marsha Williams, 48, and her son, Robert Adams, 28. They were found dead at the East Parkway home east of DeLand, said sheriff's Chief Deputy Brian Henderson in a press conference Thursday morning.

"This was a senseless murder. This did not have to occur," Henderson said. "This is absolutely senseless. This is an argument over electricity over which he became enraged and he committed this kind of violence."

The accused shooter, Michael Williams, 47, charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, called 9-1-1 at 7:56 p.m. Sunday to report that he had shot two people in the home, Henderson said.

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Responding deputies found Williams in a car in the driveway. He had placed the gun he used to kill his ex-wife and his stepson in a locked box, Henderson said.

Woman and son shot multiple times

Marsha Williams and her son were found in the home shot multiple times, with spent bullet casings near them, according to Sheriff's Office report.

Marsha and Michael Williams had been married 10 years but were divorced in June, Henderson said.

According to the divorce agreement, Michael Williams was allowed to live in the house until Marsha Williams was able to buy or sell the house and split the proceeds with her ex-husband, Henderson said.

Deputies have been to the house five times since the divorce for domestic incidents that did not rise to the level requiring an arrest, Henderson said.

Hours before Sunday's shooting, Marsha Williams had called 9-1-1 asking for help during the argument, Henderson said.

"There was this back forth between who was controlling the power," Henderson said.

According to Henderson, Michael Williams was upset that his ex-wife, his stepson and his stepson's children were leaving the lights on in the house.

Suspect put lock on breaker box, but it was cut off

On Sunday, before leaving for Orlando, Michael Williams locked the door to the house and put a lock on the breaker box, according to a report.

While in Orlando, Michael Williams was notified by an alarm company that something had happened at his home and he returned to the home, investigators said.

Michael Williams discovered that the lock had been cut off and that power had been turned on in the house.

Man suspected in shooting claims he was attacked

Michael Williams claimed that he was attacked by his stepson and repeatedly punched and kicked by his ex-wife while he was being held down. He then shot them both, according to the report.

Henderson said Michael Williams had no injuries to show that he had been attacked.

Adams' two children ages 5 and 6, were in the house and witnessed the shooting, Henderson said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DeLand shooting kills two people during argument over electricity