Lee Sheriff's Deputy Home Targeted By Neighbor

 

PORT LABELLE, FL -- This morning before noon several loud gunshots rang out on Springview Crcle in Port LaBells reportedly by someone possibly connected to a  home across the street from a Lee County Deputy.

UPDATE: The arrest report indicate Derek Weber did fire a handgun and return fire was made by the victim, a Lee County Deputy who was home at the time. A motion activated camera system captured the vehicle driving into the garage door and retreating but does not show any shooting.

A news conference was scheduled by the Lee County and Hendry County Sheriff Monday morning.

Neighbors say they have noticed some mental health issues, and suspect he may be suffering from PTSD. Saturday, windows were broken and tires slashed in a 2023 Lee County Sheriff patrol car parked at the home on Springview Circle and two family car's tires slashed, but no action was taken by law enforcement at the time because of lack of a witness. 

Weber was interviewed on Saturday but declined fingerprinting and DNA swabs. Weber claimed he was walking from 7 to 8 am and didn't see that tire were damaged at his neighbor's house.

Law enforcement installed security cameras and were able to get video of the Sunday crash into the garage.

UPDATE: Spent firearm casing indicate Weber fired 8 times, and the victim Deputy fired 7 times. In an interview Weber indicated confusion as he said a while tattooed male shot at him. But, when asked if that's who shot at him said no, and refused to answer more questions. Other neighbors interviewed said they had previously noticed confusion in his speech.

The deputy's home is showing garage door damage and Sunday afternoon at 7 p.m., men were trying to board up the garage, while Lee county law enforcement and Hendry county law enforcement were still on the scene while police tape surrounded the home and blocked the street.

UPDATE: The victim's garage has been boarded up with help from friends and co-workers. The builder of the home has volunteered to install new doors without charge.

The Lee deputy with the damaged home has owned the home in the Laurel Oaks neighborhood for about five years. The home across the street is owned by the suspect and has lived there about two years.

UPDATE: Derek Evan Weber, 32 of 4553 Springview Cir., LaBelle has been arrested and booked into Hendry County Jail today. He is the apparent suspect of damaging the home of a Lee county deputy, and a shooting incident on Springview Circle involving a Lee county deputy living across the street from his home.

Weber was captured on video Sunday driving an SUV through his neighbor’s garage door. He also started shooting as he was backing out of the driveway, about 10 rounds with a 9mm handgun, allegedly at the victim.

Weber's name has been removed from public records such as Hendry county property appraiser's ownership records and his home blurred on Google maps. Usually, this is a request by those employed past or present in law enforcement, firemen, EMS personnel, judges, investigative personnel, or other categories such as victims of major crimes. It is not known at this time why Weber's name has been redacted.

Weber's home was recently put up for sale at $279,900 and a sale is pending. He lived there for two years. Records indicate it was built in 2006 and was bought two years ago for $300,000. Editor's Opinion: Weber may be in financial distress as he signed a $3000,000 VA no down payment loan two years ago, and presumably the lender is welling to accept less than the full balance to avoid foreclosing on the home.

Weber's dogs have been placed with LaBelle Animal Control.

 Photo by Don Browne: Crime scene Sunday evening