MELBOURNE, FL – A tense encounter unfolded in a quiet Melbourne neighborhood when a fishing trip turned into a frightening ordeal for two teenagers. Braden, 15, and his 13-year-old friend were fishing near a local waterway when they were confronted by 59-year-old Donna Elkins, who accused them of trespassing on her property.
The incident, captured on video by Braden, shows the boys lying on the grass as Elkins allegedly threatened them with a rifle. “I have a right to protect my property and my house, so you ain’t coming back, ever,” Elkins can be heard saying in the video.
Braden recounted the experience during a phone interview, conducted with consent from his parents, who requested anonymity for their son’s safety. The teenagers claimed they were simply enjoying a day of fishing when Elkins approached them, wielding what they thought was a rifle and threatening to “blow their heads off.”
According to an arrest report, Elkins called 911 to report the presence of the boys in her backyard, alleging they were fishing on her property. She admitted to deputies that she had approached the teens with a pellet gun, intending to scare them off. The report highlighted that Elkins’ husband intervened, disarming her during the confrontation.
Despite Elkins being the one to contact authorities, she was subsequently charged with aggravated assault and false imprisonment. The arrest report clarifies that the teens were, in fact, 30 feet beyond Elkins’ property line, on a public peninsula.
Braden expressed his hope for justice, saying, “I mean, I hope she gets what she deserves, really, and to stop that from happening in the future for other places and other people.”
The incident has sparked a debate on property rights and appropriate responses to trespassing, with some community members questioning the use of weapons in such situations. Authorities continue to investigate the case, and Elkins awaits further legal proceedings.
The community remains on edge as they grapple with the implications of the incident and the broader conversation it has ignited about safety and responsibility.