A Leesburg woman was arrested Saturday after Marion County sheriff’s deputies say she grabbed a man’s handgun during an argument and fired a shot at him while holding a juvenile in her lap.
Ju’aria Lanier Roberts, 25, was arrested Aug. 29 on charges of armed robbery by sudden snatching, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and child abuse without great bodily harm, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.
Deputies responded around 11:38 a.m. to the area of U.S. Highway 441 and Southeast Highway 42 in Summerfield following reports of a physical disturbance involving a man and woman. While deputies were responding, they were advised the man involved had a firearm.
According to the affidavit, deputies located the man sitting in the driver’s seat of a white pickup truck near the intersection. He told deputies there was a gun inside the vehicle, which deputies subsequently secured.
The man told investigators Roberts had contacted him for a ride and was holding a juvenile in her lap while they traveled north on U.S. 441.
According to his account to deputies, Roberts began “acting bizarre” and the two started arguing. The man turned around and began driving south toward Roberts’ home, but as they approached the intersection of U.S. 441 and Highway 42, Roberts allegedly reached over, grabbed the handgun from his waist, pointed it at him and fired.
The man told deputies he was able to lean back and avoid being struck by the bullet. After the gun went off, he said he grabbed Roberts and threw her from the vehicle in self-defense before retrieving the firearm and putting it back in his holster.
The encounter apparently did not end there.
According to the affidavit, the man was then involved in a rear-end collision with a white SUV before leaving his vehicle and fleeing the scene. He told deputies he feared for his life after Roberts allegedly fired the gun at him.
Investigators reported finding a bullet fragment in the interior of the driver’s door of the pickup truck and took possession of the man’s Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol as evidence.
Another deputy located Roberts nearby. The affidavit states she initially was uncooperative with investigators. After being taken into custody and advised of her Miranda rights, Roberts allegedly told deputies she did not pull the trigger and otherwise did not cooperate with the investigation.
Deputies alleged Roberts’ actions amounted to armed robbery because she took the firearm from the man’s waist and aggravated assault because she allegedly fired it toward him. Investigators also alleged she committed child abuse because she was holding the juvenile in her lap during the incident, creating a risk of physical or mental injury to the child.
Roberts was transported to the Marion County Jail. The arrest affidavit lists no bond on the three felony charges.
