William Poole, 62, arrested as suspect of Oct. 10 Hernando murder/barricade/arson

Citrus County, Florida - The armed suspect who barricaded himself inside a Hernando home, located near the intersection of Highway 41 and Van Ness Road in Hernando, about 4:00 pm, Saturday afternoon, Ocrtober 10,2020, after killing one victim, and threatening four others, has been identified as 62 year-old William Poole of Hernando, Florida.

Witnesses told detectives, that following a verbal altelrcation with his father-in-law, 80-year-old William White, Mr. Poole pulled a firearm from his pocket and shot Mr. White. Mr. Poole then fired at deputies and neighboring residences until deputies convinced Poole to put down his weapon and surrender.

Poole was taken into custody by members of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and the Criminal Investigations Division (CID). The agency's Crisis Negotiation Team was also on the scene, along with drone operators and the SWAT team from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office (SCSO). Citrus County Fire Rescue was also on scene, battling a fire that Mr. Poole set within his residence.

Mr. Poole was charged with 1 count of second degree murder, 7 counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, and 2 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Poole's bond was set at $255,000 per the bond schedule.