October 26, 2026 – Port Charlotte, FL
A man was arrested after shooting at neighbors with an AR-15 style rifle from his backyard.
Just before 5pm on Sunday, October 25, 2026, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls stating that a man was shooting a gun at the residence of 574 Orange Street in Port Charlotte. As deputies arrived on scene, they also heard gunshots and issued a shelter-in-place order out of an abundance of caution. While searching the area, they observed a man matching the shooter’s description and detained him in a patrol vehicle. The man was not armed. The Major Case Unit was called to investigate as deputies continued to secure the area.
While speaking with witnesses, it was confirmed that the man deputies had already detained was the suspect, identified as Dwight Washington White (11/4/1981). Witnesses say White was yelling in his backyard before pointing the gun at them and firing. Nobody was hit, but detectives located several bullet holes in the outer construction of a nearby home on Kellstadt Street and in the rear door of a parked vehicle. Investigators also discovered spent casings on the suspect’s property and located a rifle with magazine in the laundry room of the suspect’s home.
Through investigation, detectives learned that Washington is a convicted felon with a 2005 conviction for First Degree Attempted Murder out of Miami-Dade County. Additionally, White failed to register as a felon when he moved to Charlotte County. White was arrested and charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon without Intent to Kill, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Failing to Register as a Convicted Felon. He was transported to the Charlotte County Jail where he is being held without bond.
“It angers me that this dangerous man was living in our community and did not register himself. I am thankful that nobody was hurt by his violent outbursts, but that doesn’t change the fact that an entire neighborhood was put in fear because of his actions. There is no excuse for it, and it will not be tolerated. Thank you to the deputies who ran toward the gunfire to protect the people in the area. Your response may have saved lives. Meanwhile, this young man can get reacclimated to the view through the bars because it seems that is exactly where he belongs.”
Sheriff Bill Prummell
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