November 25, 2025 – Port Charlotte, FL
A Port Charlotte man has been arrested after detectives determined he knowingly sold a firearm to a suspect which was ultimately used in the killing of another man.
On July 5, 2025, a 19-year-old by the name of Michael Balunas shot and killed another teenager named Anthony Romero (see the original post here: A Dispute Between Two Teenagers Turns to Gun Violence – Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office). Balunas was arrested, and a third male named Octavion Washington was also arrested three days later (Hernando Avenue Shooting Investigation Update – Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office) in connection to the shooting.
Following those arrests, detectives continued to work the case in an effort to determine how Balunas got possession of the firearm (a Glock 29 10mm) used in the incident. Through investigative means, they found that the gun had been purchased at a local gun shop in Port Charlotte by Antonio D. Felix (2/22/2000) on April 11, 2025 and picked up on April 24. That same day (4/24), Balunas posted photos of himself on social media holding the firearm with captions bragging about having it and it being legal.
Detectives met with Felix and questioned him on his relationship with Balunas. During that conversation, the investigators were able to determine that Felix purchased the firearm at the request of Balunas because of a long-standing “deadly beef” between Balunas and Romero. Balunas was not able to purchase a firearm himself due to already being on probation, but provided the cash to Felix for the purchase up front.
“It should not have ever come to this, but I want to thank my detectives for their diligence in finding everyone involved in this incident and for making sure they are all held accountable. My team is very thorough in their investigations and if you’re involved in something, they will find out about it. The bottom line is, stay out of someone else’s ‘beef’ unless you want to get wrapped up in the consequences as well. Imagine how different the lives of these families would all be if just one person had made the right choice.”
Sheriff Bill Prummell
Antonio D. Felix was placed under arrest and charged with Obtaining a Firearm for an Unauthorized Person. At the time of this release, he is still being processed at the Charlotte County Jail.
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