Two Arrested Following Brooksville Shooting and Domestic Violence Investigation

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office has made a second arrest in connection with a shooting and a separate domestic violence investigation that occurred on 11-03-2026, at the St. Teresa Apartments, located at 250 N. Broad Street in Brooksville.

Deputies initially responded after receiving a 911 call from a man reporting that he had been shot multiple times in the arm and leg. The victim identified Richard Lilly Jr. DOB/09-02-1968 as the shooter.

Deputies located the victim nearby, and he was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was later released.

During the investigation, detectives learned that Lilly had allegedly struck his girlfriend with a firearm during a domestic dispute several days earlier and threatened to shoot her.

Lilly was located inside a neighboring apartment and detained. Detectives and forensic personnel conducted an extensive investigation, including multiple search warrants and searches of the residences associated with the investigation.

Investigators recovered ammunition consistent with the reported firearm caliber; however, the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting was not initially located.

Lilly was arrested on the following charges:

Shooting Investigation

·         Aggravated Battery with a Firearm

·         Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

·         Shooting Within a Building

·         Tampering with Physical Evidence

·         Criminal Mischief

Domestic Violence Investigation:

·         Aggravated Battery

·         Aggravated Assault

·         Domestic Battery

·         Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Lilly is currently at the Hernando County Detention Center where his bond is currently set at $105,000.

Violent Crimes Unit detectives continued their investigation to locate the firearm. During the follow-up investigation, detectives received information that Jennifer Fugate DOB/05-26-1976, a resident living in the complex, had made statements to another person indicating the firearm had been removed from the scene.

After initially denying any knowledge of the incident, surveillance footage showed Fugate walking through the apartment complex breezeway from the direction of Lilly’s apartment approximately one minute after the shooting.

During a subsequent interview with detectives, Fugate admitted that Lilly had handed her a black-and-brown revolver inside a holster shortly after the shooting and instructed her to get rid of it.

Fugate told detectives she kept the firearm until the morning of 11-04-2026, when she concealed it underneath a building located near the apartment complex. She further admitted to wiping down the firearm, removing two live cartridges and one spent cartridge casing, and discarding the ammunition on the property.

Detectives obtained consent to search the property and located the firearm and discarded ammunition in the exact locations described by Fugate. The firearm was not reported stolen and will undergo additional forensic testing to determine whether it may be associated with other criminal investigations.

Fugate was arrested and charged with:

·         Accessory After the Fact

·         Tampering with Physical Evidence

·         Providing False Information During a Felony Investigation

Fugate’s bond was set at $11,000. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives await additional forensic results and continue follow-up investigative efforts.