Family argument leads to fatal shooting in Volusia County, police say

ORANGE CITY, Fla. — A man was shot and killed by his uncle Saturday after an argument between the two men turned physical, according to Volusia County deputies.

Orange City police responded along with deputies to a home in the 400 block of Charles Avenue for reports of a shooting just after 8 p.m.

They entered the home to find 28-year-old James Lorefice shot to death and the shooter, later identified as 56-year-old Fredrick Griswold and Lorefice’s uncle, with a head injury.

He was taken to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City to be treated.

Volusia County investigators say the two men appear to have gotten into an argument that escalated to a physical fight and ended when Griswold armed himself with a handgun and shot Lorefice.

Griswold initially claimed he fired in self-defense, but deputies say the fight had already ended when Griswold pulled his gun.

According to deputies, Lorefice and his mother had been at the home on Church Avenue, where Griswold lives, earlier in the day.

Witnesses told investigators the two men got into a fight in a garage at the home that moved into the house.

Deputies say Griswold eventually went to his bedroom while the witnesses tried to deescalate the argument.

That’s when investigators say Griswold suddenly exited his bedroom with a handgun and fired several shots, striking Lorefice.

Investigators say Griswold claimed Lorefice had been armed with a knife, but they determined he couldn’t have been actively defending himself when he fired because the fight had already ended.

Griswold was charged with first-degree murder Sunday morning and remains under guard at the hospital.

Cox Media Group