A Florida man rammed a U-Haul truck into his new neighbor’s balcony, then allegedly fired multiple shots that killed the neighbor after an argument erupted over the crash, according to authorities.
Christian Freebourn faces charges of second-degree murder for the incident, which occurred when his neighbor, Herbert Harris, confronted him about the damage caused by the U-Haul crash.
According to court documents seen by Law&Crime, Harris emerged from his home to confront Freebourn about the collision and demanded payment for the damage. The situation quickly escalated into a heated argument.
Prosecutors claim that Freebourn warned Harris that he was armed and requested him to return indoors. However, Harris defiantly responded with a challenge, saying “Make me!” He then reportedly advanced towards Freebourn, prompting further confrontation.
In defense, Freebourn asserted that he feared for his safety and claimed Harris was making aggressive movements. He alleged that Harris approached him in a threatening manner, which led him to open fire in self-defense.
During the altercation, Harris sustained fatal gunshot wounds, including one to the eye and multiple others to the neck, leg, and upper chest, according to the criminal complaint.
Harris’s girlfriend, who was present during the U-Haul crash, recounted hearing the collision and witnessing the truck’s impact on their property.
Freebourn, accompanied by his teenage brother at the time of the incident, maintains that the crash was accidental but insists he had no choice but to use deadly force to protect himself.
Under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” laws, individuals are permitted to use lethal force in self-defense situations, which Freebourn cited to justify his actions to law enforcement.
Despite his defense, prosecutors highlight that Freebourn did not explicitly express fear for his life due to Harris’s actions during the incident.
The teenage brother, who was inside the U-Haul during the confrontation, provided limited details to authorities, stating he did not witness the entirety of the altercation.
