[IMAGE CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 02/06/20]
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EUSTIS, Florida — The first cousin of a man already charged in the shooting of a 32-year-old woman in Eustis last month was arrested Wednesday for principal to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the shooting on January 27 was the culmination of a series of arguments and confrontations between the shooter, Keson Donaldson, who was arrested the same day as the shooting, and the victim, Santana Potts. On Wednesday, Eustis Police arrested Donaldson’s cousin, Keenon Maurice Benn, 20, of Eustis for allegedly giving Donaldson the gun he used to shoot Potts.
Donaldson told police he went to Myung Sung Store, 201 Palmetto Street, Eustis to make a purchase. As he was walking up to the store, Potts and three other people allegedly confronted Donaldson and he told them he did not want any trouble. According to Donaldson, Potts approached him with a pink eyebrow blade (described as a pink pocketknife by Donaldson) and swung her fist, slashing him in the face. Donaldson said he fell to the ground next to a gun and said he reached for the gun while other people were reaching for the same gun. In fear, Donaldson grabbed the gun and began firing in an unknown direction, the affidavit states.
But Potts told police a different story, according to a probable cause affidavit. She told police she pulled up to the store, backed her car in and saw her brother. While hanging out with her brother, two people began walking towards her; Benn, who is known by the nickname “Ooh” and another person who she eventually recognized as Donaldson. Potts questioned Benn why he would bring Donaldson there and Benn told her to forget about the earlier confrontation the pair had. As Donaldson and Benn were about to leave, Potts told Benn to, “remember what I told you.” Donaldson responded, “Oh, [expletive expletive expletive,] nobody worried about what you said.”
Potts and Donaldson continued to argue and Benn stood between the two and pushed Potts toward the road. Benn said, “Y’all don’t need to do this,” and Donaldson “mushed” Potts in the face, she told police. She described “mushing” as a closed fist punch, the affidavit states. She did have a bruise on her chin, police noted in the affidavit. Potts then sliced Donaldson in the face with a pink eyebrow blade. She told police she was in fear due to Donaldson’s previous threats and she felt she needed to defend herself.
Benn allegedly then reached into his pocket and handed Donaldson a gun; Potts walked towards Myung Sung Store and yelled out, “Boy, you better not shoot that gun.” Potts then heard a shot and did not feel anything, but felt a bullet hit her when Donaldson allegedly took the second shot, she said. Potts fell to the ground and heard more gunfire. She told police she believed eight rounds were fired in her direction. Four shell casings were found at the scene.
Potts was airlifted to a local hospital for her injuries. She suffered two gunshot wounds, one to the right arm and one under her armpit. The bullet that went in under her armpit collapsed part of her right lung and caused a spinal fracture. The bullet is still lodged under her heart, according to the affidavit.
Donaldson, 21, was arrested last month and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon the day of the shooting. He was released the same day on $20,000 bond. Benn was charged with principal to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was arrested Wednesday and released from the Lake County Jail on $10,000 bond.
“CID (Criminal Investigation Division) has concluded their investigation,“ Eustis Police Officer Lauren Brown said.”No other arrests will be made.”
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
