Man accused of shooting wife in pickup truck while son sat beside her

GROVELAND, Fla. — A Groveland man is accused of shooting his girlfriend as she sat in her pickup truck, and her young son witnessed the incident, authorities said.

The shooting happened outside a home on Mascotte Empire Road.

Deputies said the shooting was triggered by a dinner dispute.

Authorities said the couple and the victim's son were having dinner, and when the child refused to eat his food, Stephen Collins became angry.

Lake County deputies said Collins shot his girlfriend, Amberlee Price, multiple times Monday evening.

Collins said it was in self-defense.

Sgt. Fred Jones of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Collins kicked Price and her son out of the house just before the shooting.

“For something to get out of hand over a child saying, ‘I’m not hungry right now. I’ll eat later,’ It’s pretty disturbing,” said Jones.

Deputies said Collins got a gun and followed the mother and son as they were leaving, and then fired into Price's pickup truck with her son sitting next to her.

A neighbor, who did not want to be identified, called 911.

"They were loud. It (the shots) shook the house," the neighbor said. “He (the boy) was running around all scared, and, you know, he didn't know what to do."

Deputies said the child was not hurt.

Price was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Deputies said she remains in in critical condition.

Collins was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

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