In a late evening press conference on July 5, Sheriff Al Nienhuis stated that the barricaded subject situation on Maripoe Rd in Weeki Wachee has been resolved. Hernando and Citrus County deputies spotted the subject, James Buford Hines, hiding in a closet inside the residence. Sheriff Nienhuis believes a Hernando County deputy deployed a less lethal bean bag shot via a shotgun to attempt to incapacitate Hines. Once the bean bag was deployed – based on what Sheriff Nienhuis heard over the radio- is that Hines had a long gun and started firing at deputies (Hernando and Citrus), who returned fire. Deputies subdued Hines, and they were able to remove him from the house. He was transported to a local trauma center, and his condition is unknown, but Nienhuis suspects it’s “probably very serious.”
FDLE will be involved in reviewing the incident.
Earlier in the day, Hines became an attempted murder suspect after a house fire destroyed a home. Two individuals were inside when the fire began- Hines’ former girlfriend and her new boyfriend, according to Sheriff Nienhuis. Thankfully they were not seriously injured. Hines had made threats via text against the girlfriend, and they were able to gather evidence that he had purchased gasoline shortly prior to the fire. Law enforcement had enough probable cause to arrest Hines for the attempted murder, Nienhuis stated during the press conference.
Original Information:
A little after 2 pm this afternoon (July 5). The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office advised of a barricaded person on Maripoe Road in Weeki Wachee. The cross streets are PAPERCRAFT/PACIFIC NIGHTHAWK. The alert states that the subject is an attempted murder suspect armed with a firearm. They are telling residents in the area to remain indoors and advise drivers to avoid the area.
At 4:30 today, deputies, swat, and the crisis response team are still on the scene as the subject is still barricaded inside the residence. The Crisis Response Team is hoping to negotiate a peaceful resolution and is attempting to make contact with the subject. Intersections are still closed as of 4:30 pm.
