TL;DR: A convicted felon was arrested in Port Charlotte, Florida, on Oct. 25 after deputies say he fired an AR-15-style rifle at neighbors from his backyard. No one was hit, but bullet holes were found in a nearby home and a parked vehicle.
A man was arrested in Port Charlotte, Florida, on Sunday, Oct. 25, after deputies say he fired an AR-15-style rifle at neighbors from his backyard, prompting a shelter-in-place order for the area, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said on Oct. 26.
Just before 5 p.m. on Oct. 25, the sheriff’s office received multiple 911 calls stating that a man was shooting a gun at a residence at 574 Orange Street in Port Charlotte. As deputies arrived, they also heard gunshots and issued a shelter-in-place order out of an abundance of caution, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies detained a man matching the shooter’s description in a patrol vehicle. He was not armed at that point. After speaking with witnesses, detectives confirmed the detained man was the suspect, identified as Dwight Washington White. Witnesses said White was yelling in his backyard before pointing the gun at them and firing. The charges are allegations, and White is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What deputies found at the scene
Nobody was hit, the sheriff’s office said, but detectives located several bullet holes in the outer construction of a nearby home on Kellstadt Street and in the rear door of a parked vehicle. Investigators also discovered spent casings on the suspect’s property and located a rifle with a magazine in the laundry room of the suspect’s home.
Those physical findings are central to the case. Bullet holes, casings and a recovered rifle allow investigators to test whether the weapon matches the shots fired, and to show a jury the direction and reach of the gunfire, even though no one was struck.
The charges and White’s record
White was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and failing to register as a convicted felon, the sheriff’s office said. He was taken to the Charlotte County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
Through investigation, detectives learned White is a convicted felon with a 2005 conviction for first-degree attempted murder out of Miami-Dade County, the sheriff’s office said. White also failed to register as a felon when he moved to Charlotte County, according to the sheriff’s office.
Why a shelter-in-place order was issued
When deputies arrived and heard gunshots themselves, they issued a shelter-in-place order while they searched the area and secured the scene. Such orders are a precaution: they keep residents indoors and out of sight lines while officers determine where shots are coming from and whether a shooter is still active.
The Major Case Unit was called to investigate as deputies continued to secure the area. Once the suspect was detained and the rifle was recovered, the immediate danger to the neighbourhood ended, though the investigation into exactly what set off the confrontation continued.
The sheriff’s response
Sheriff Bill Prummell said he was angered that a dangerous man was living in the community without registering, and thanked deputies who ran toward the gunfire to protect people in the area. He said the response may have saved lives, and that an entire neighbourhood had been put in fear by the shooting.
White’s case will now move through the courts, where prosecutors must prove the assault and felon-in-possession counts. For neighbours on Orange Street and Kellstadt Street, the bullet holes left behind are a reminder of how close a Sunday afternoon came to a very different outcome.
Featured image: representative scene photo, not a photo of the people or the exact location in this case. Image source: police scene photo
Sources: Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in Port Charlotte?
Dwight Washington White, arrested Oct. 25, 2026, after deputies say he fired a rifle at neighbors.
What happened?
Just before 5 p.m. on Oct. 25, multiple 911 callers reported a man shooting at a residence at 574 Orange Street in Port Charlotte. Deputies heard gunshots on arrival and issued a shelter-in-place order.
Was anyone hurt?
No. Nobody was hit, but bullet holes were found in a nearby home on Kellstadt Street and in the rear door of a parked vehicle.
What weapon was involved?
Deputies say White fired an AR-15-style rifle. A rifle with a magazine was later found in the laundry room of his home.
What charges does he face?
Two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and failing to register as a convicted felon.
Is he in custody?
Yes. He was taken to the Charlotte County Jail and is being held without bond, according to the sheriff’s office.
Why is the felon-in-possession charge relevant?
The sheriff’s office said White has a 2005 first-degree attempted murder conviction in Miami-Dade County, and that convicted felons are barred from possessing firearms.
