On 05-08-19 at approximately 6:11 a.m., operators in the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a 9-1-1 hang-Up call. When operators called the number back, a male, later identified as the defendant, Ronald Crisp, answered the phone.
Crisp told operators that while “cleaning” his gun, he accidentally shot his girlfriend, Elizabeth Perez.
When a female in the background began to scream, the call was again disconnected.
After several attempts by the 9-1-1 operator to reestablish contact, Crisp finally answered the phone. Again, the 9-1-1 operator could hear a female screaming in the background to give her the phone. The call was disconnected again, and no further contact was made by phone.
Patrol deputies arrived on scene at 34918 Reynolds Street, Dade City (Hernando County) and located a female bleeding from the area of her lower back. The female, identified as Elizabeth Perez, was treated on scene by Hernando County Fire Rescue and then transported to a local trauma center for advanced care.
When interviewed on the scene, Crisp told detectives that he was “clearing” his gun and it accidentally went off. Crisp went on to advise that when the gun discharged, the round went through the wall into the living room area. He claimed he then heard Perez screaming that she’d been shot.
Once Perez was out of surgery, detectives arrived at the hospital to conduct an interview with her. Perez’s account of the events was not consistent with Crisp’s.
Perez told detectives that the shooting was not an accident. Perez stated that she and Crisp had been arguing for a few days, and the argument had continued into the morning in the couple’s bedroom. During the argument (that morning) Crisp had a pocket knife in his hands.
Perez left the bedroom for a few moments. When she returned, Crisp was holding the handgun. Words were exchanged then Perez walked out of the bedroom again, closing the door behind her.
Perez immediately heard a shot, then felt pain in her lower back. She screamed for Crisp to call 9-1-1, as he was in possession of the only phone. Perez told detectives that Crisp hesitated to make the call, so she attempted to get the phone from him but was unable to get it. Crisp told Perez to go get his gun cleaning kit.
Perez left the home in an attempt to summon help. Unable to summon help, Perez returned to the residence.
Detectives executed a search warrant on the residence.
During a search of the residence, detectives located a .380 caliber handgun (with an altered serial number) and a pocket knife in the bedroom. They also located a bullet hole in the bedroom door, consistent with Perez’s statement. Additionally, detectives located a short barreled rifle with no identifiable serial number hidden in the master bedroom.
It should be noted there was no bullet hole in the wall where Crisp said one would be (from the gun “cleaning” and/or “clearing” accident.
Ronald Crisp W/M DOB/01-12-1978 was placed under arrest by detectives. Crisp was charged as follows:
• Aggravated Battery w/a Firearm Causing Great Bodily Injury (Domestic)
o No Bond
• Shooting a Deadly Missile (Dwelling)
o Bond – $10,000
• Tampering w/a Witness
o Bond – $5,000
• Possession of a Firearm w/Altered Serial Number
o Bond – $1,000
• Possession of Short Barreled Rifle
o Bond – $5,000.
