Dunnellon man charged with murder and attempted murder

Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO)

Matthew Wade Osborn, 26, of Dunnellon, Florida, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), early Saturday morning, May 25, 2024, charged with premeditated murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill (no bond). The weapon recovered was a .38 Special revolver.

According to the arrest report, at 2:24 am EDT, a witness contacted the Citrus County Sheriff's Office with information that her roommate's ex-boyfriend had shown up at their Citrus Springs, Florida residence with a gun, threatening to kill her roommate's current boyfriend. One minute later, dispatch was informed that the suspect - identified as Osborne - had shot someone, and he was now chasing someone outside with a revolver.

At 2:31 am, Citrus County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived on scene, took Osborne into custody, and recovered the revolver.

Deputies accompanied emergency medical services (EMS) to the male shooting victim, found lying on the floor of the hallway near the living room, on his stomach (face down), with a large amount of blood pooled around him. He was transported to Tampa General Hospital Crystal River, where he was pronounced deceased at 3:36 am. He had sustained at least two gunshot wounds to his chest and lower back.

The female victim told a detective that she had been in an intimate partner relationship with Osborne for the previous five years. Several hours previously, about 9:00 pm, May 24, she had contacted the CCSO, reporting that Osborne had communicated suicidal ideation to her via text message, and she believed that Osborne was in possession of the revolver.

Osborne showed up at the Citrus Springs residence, unannounced, about 2:00 am, May 25, confronting the male victim for being at his (Osborne's) residence with his (Osborne's) girlfriend.

When the female victim was informed by a witness that Osborne had removed two children from the residence, she left the room to search for the children. While she was looking for the children, she heard a series of gunshots from within the residence, and fled, with a witness, to a neighboring residence.

The female victim told a detective, according to the arrest report, that Osborne confronted her at the neighbor's house with the revolver in his hand, and told her something to the effect of, "If you don't tell law enforcement that I acted in self-defense, I will shoot you." She said she was in fear for her life, but deputies soon arrived on scene and took Osborne into custody.

The female victim told deputies that the male victim was unarmed, not under the influence of any substance, and has no mental health condition.

Two witnesses and the female victim all corroborated the details of the incident as described above. According to all accounts, the male victim was non-confrontational and never threatened or attempted to attack Osborne. They believed that three shots had been fired.

The arrest report stated that both witnesses overheard Osborne state, "I'm going to kill him," referring to the male victim, while arming himself with the firearm. Both witnesses then left the residence with the children and contacted law enforcement.

Osborne was interviewed at the CCSO Emergency Operations Center in Lecanto, Florida, but the details of the interview were not available.