A recently divorced Florida man fatally shot his ex-wife and stepson in a rage over leaving lights on in the house and using too much electricity, Florida authorities confirmed.

The 47-year-old suspect, identified as Michael D. Williams, was arrested on Sunday evening. He has been charged with first-degree murder for shooting Robert Adams, 28, and Marsha Ebanks-Williams, 47. Marsha Williams and her son met their untimely death at the Deland, Florida home, which they shared with the suspect during their ten-year marriage. The couple were still living together after recently divorcing.

A statement from the Volusia Sheriff’s office confirmed that after committing the crime, the accused called 911 on Sunday evening at around 8 pm, claiming he shot his ex-wife and stepson in self-defense.

The statement claimed that when the deputies arrived at the scene, in the Daytona Park Estates neighborhood, they found Williams sitting in a car parked in the driveway. He surrendered to the officers without resistance and was taken into custody.

The two bodies were found in the house. The deputies also found two unharmed children of the stepson, Mr. Adams, aged five and six, who were visiting their dad from Tallahassee. According to authorities, the young ones might have witnessed the heinous act.

Upon interrogation by detectives, Williams revealed that the violence erupted following a disagreement over electricity issues. Williams told detectives that he locked the house’s power panel before he left home on Sunday. However, on his return, he found that the victims had cut the lock, restored power, and replaced the lock with a new one, said Chief Deputy Brian Henderson.

During a press briefing, Chief Deputy Henderson noted that when Williams returned home, he was upset that the family members were leaving the lights on, and they had added a new lock on the panel, something that sparked an argument between them and later led to him killing them.

According to the accused, he was provoked and punched in the face. Chief Deputy Henderson said there was no sign of injury, adding that whatever happened wasn’t a dangerous attack that could warrant people being shot multiple times. He called the shooting shameless and unjustified.

Despite their divorce a few months ago, Williams and his wife continued living together, but they reportedly had a very tense relationship. Deputy Henderson described the union as toxic and said Marsha Williams had just called the sheriff’s office hours before the attack, looking for legal advice. The couple had also contacted deputies in recent months looking for counsel as they sought to sell their home and share its proceeds. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office had received at least five calls from Mr. Williams, but none contained violent threats. According to Deputy Henderson, there was no peace between the couple.

Williams has a history of other crimes, including battery on a law enforcement officer, domestic violence, worthless checks, and child abuse.

The suspect is being held without bond in the Volusia County Branch jail, where he was taken on Monday. On October 19, 2022, he will face two charges of first-degree murder of Marsha Ebanks-Williams and Robert Adams.