Nicholas Edward LeBlanc, a 36-year-old resident of 6 Buffalo Bill Drive in Palm Coast, was arrested on two felony counts of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon following a reportedly accidental shooting that severely injured a woman Sunday night at the Buffalo Bill house. LeBlanc gave conflicting accounts regarding the incident, which remains murky.
The commotion, which drew a large police response and an emergency helicopter that airlifted the woman to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach, caused a lot of concern and some inaccurate information in the B Section, where some residents believed the helicopter was searching for the shooter. That was not the case.
According to his arrest report, Leblanc told one deputy that he was getting his children prepared to leave with the victim, “As he was putting the children in the vehicle, which was located in the backyard, the firearm went off,” he told deputies. He could not provide a description as to how it went off. “He alleged he came inside the residence and noticed [the victim] with a gunshot wound to her leg.” He told deputies that the firearm, a Highpoint .380acp handgun, is registered to him, and he “takes full responsibility for it injuring” the woman. He told deputies he was aware that he was not legally allowed to own a firearm. He was convicted on two counts of grand theft and burglary in 2015.
But LeBlanc’s account to another deputy was a different story. LeBlanc told that deputy that after placing the children in the car, he went to check on the woman. The two got into an argument. They both allegedly reached for the gun, the firearm fell to the ground and went off, striking the woman in the upper thigh.
When deputies arrived at the scene and found the woman bleeding on the floor in a bedroom, “the bedroom door appeared to have been forced open,” according to the arrest report. “The damaged door frame had a horizontal gouge in the top portion of the door from what appeared to be a handgun round and an apparent entry hole which appeared to be the size of a bullet.”
Deputies asked LeBlanc about the gouged door frame. “He appeared confused to the damage,” the report states. “He then stated the damage was there for an unknown time frame and was caused by an unknown object, although the wood was splintering off the gouge. Deputies established that LeBlanc and the woman were in the relationship, living at that address.
The sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigation unit responded, as did detectives. Since LeBlanc conceded to being the owner of the gun, he was placed under arrest and subsequently booked at the county jail. The crime scene was dismantled at 10:30 p.m.
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Tom Davies says
Wouldn”t make sense to arrest the gun store for not doing a background check correctly
chuck cap says
Where does it say a gun store was involved! How do we know you didn’t supply it.
Mike says
It’s in the story. “Since LeBlanc conceded to being the owner of the gun, he was placed under arrest and subsequently booked at the county jail. “
wow says
“He conceded to being the owner of the gun” doesn’t mean he purchased it at a gun store. He also says it was registered to him. He also changes his story various times. Maybe…Just maybe… he’s lying about legally owning the gun???????
Outsider says
It doesn’t take Dick Tracy to realize he may have purchased the gun before he was convicted of a crime.
FlaglerLive says
He acquired the gun three years ago, according to the SO. He was convicted five years ago.
Outsider says
Thank you. That definitely makes it more of a head scratcher.
ASF says
Safeguarding the children from their parents’ potentially violent problems should be the first order of business.
NOT FEELING SAFE!!! says
I don’t understand how a he has a conviction for a felony And was in possesion of a firearm and ammunition someone gets shot with said firearm and ammo and he gets to get out of jail!!!!!
Not really feeling safe!!!!
Richard says
Exactly why they will never take my guns away from me. Felons and criminals are able to get all the guns that they want and need to conduct their “business”. BUT yet the law makers what to take mine away, yeah RIGHT! What needs to be done is make it an immediate death penalty for any criminal or felon caught in possession of a gun. If you are caught you go to death row and one week later you are DEAD. Trust me that will end this crap of felons having guns!
Justin Time says
Geez. I don’t understand either. But if you Keep voting democrat, you’ll Definatly keep guns out of the hands of criminals. This is the way..
John winks both says
How will laws ever keep guns out of hands of those who do not follow laws !!! Democrats or Republicans u think it makes a difference?
Nichole says
are you kidding me….A wonderful woman and mother was injured severely and all you have the nerve to say is its because of democrats!! Sick!!!! Everything is not political!! SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL, SWEET, LOVING MOTHER, SISTER, DAUGHTER, AND FRIEND!! HAVE SOME RESPECT!!
Agkistrodon says
But you’re okay with him voting I’ll bet right. If he paid his fines and served his time, why shouldn’t he get all his Constitutional rights back. Why would they want to pick which rights someone gets back…….hmmmm sounds fishy eh?….
jim says
don’t forget…He’s an “ALPHA MALE”
John says
My friend lives across the street from them and has seen since they lived there how abusive he was and how bad that family was. I’m lucky she wasn’t hurt at any point in time, this is why these stupid democrats need to stop pulling gun law straws, it’ll never happen because they pull stuff like this. HE GETS TO GET OUT OF JAIL WITH A FELONY AND STILL HAVE A GUN!
Tim says
I don’t get it…he looks like an outstanding young citizen with a bright future!! You just never know do you.