Aunt of man allegedly shot by former St. Augustine Beach mayor speaks

Deputies: Former mayor shot acquaintance

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The aunt of the man deputies said was shot by a former mayor of St. Augustine Beach spoke to News4Jax on Saturday.

St. Johns County sheriff's deputies said former Mayor Frank Charles shot 27-year-old Blake Miles during a dispute at the mayor's home in the Cimmarone Golf Club subdivision early Friday morning.

Ashley Almand said her nephew suffered one gunshot wound to the chest and another to the groin. She said his condition has been upgraded to stable.

She acknowledges Miles has a criminal record but doesn't want people to rush to judgement in this case.

"I could never see him or imagining him provoking someone to shoot him," Almand said. "I can tell you that Blake and the former mayor were friends, had been friends for about five years, had gone on trips together and he had been staying at Mr. Charles' residence."

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"He was unarmed when he was shot," Almand continued. "Just because of the mayor's status and Blake's former record, you know, the public is automatically assuming that it was my nephew doing the shooting or whatever. That's not the case here."

Charles has not been charged, but was questioned.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.


About the Author:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.