Police: Wife shoots husband in Lake City park

Lake City police say Ruby Sheppard is wanted for attempted murder

Ruby Sheppard

LAKE CITY, Fla. – Police say a 33-year-old woman attempted to run over her husband in the parking lot of Annie Mattox Park in Lake City on Monday evening. Witnesses told police that with her husband pinned between her car and a second vehicle, she argued with him, then retrieved a gun and shot him in the leg.

Lake City police say 43-year-old Anthony Sheppard was at the park with family and friends as part of the Martin Luther King Day festivities. At about 6 p.m., his wife, Ruby Sheppard, drove into the west parking lot of the park off of N.E. Denver street in a 2004 Cadillac. Upon seeing her husband, witnesses reported she attempted to run him over with the vehicle, subsequently pinning him between two vehicles.

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Police say Ruby Sheppard got out of her vehicle and began an argument as he was getting out from between the two vehicles. After a brief argument, she ran back to her vehicle and retrieved a semi-automatic handgun from the glove compartment. The victim and witnesses reported to investigating officers that Ruby Sheppard began hit her husband with the handle of the gun.

According to authorities, during the struggle, when their 21-year-old son, Anthony Sheppard Jr., attempted to separate them, his mother pointed the gun at him.  Police say her husband pushed him out of the way as she pulled the trigger and the Anthony Sheppard Sr. was shot one time in the upper left thigh.

He was taken to Shands at Lake Shore Hospital by his family with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police say Ruby Sheppard drove away.  As of midday Tuesday, she was still at large. Officers say she is wanted on charges attempted murder and aggravated assault and should be considered armed and dangerous.

"Due to the citizens who stayed at the park to provide law enforcement with an eyewitness account of these tragic events, the officers were able to quickly identify the aggressor in this crime and will be diligently searching for her for her immediate arrest," said Lake City Police Chief Argatha Gilmore.

Anyone with any information on Ruby Sheppard's whereabouts is asked contact Investigator Tammy Cox at 386-758?5471.