News

Actions

Surveillance video captures attempted murder

Posted at 6:41 PM, Feb 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-05 18:41:59-05

It appears a jammed gun may have saved the life of a Polk County man and possibly his friend.

Investigators say Gibson Hyacinthe went to a physicians' office on Wednesday on South Florida Avenue in Lakeland for the sole purpose of finding his estranged ex-wife.

When he arrived, authorities say he spotted the man who brought the woman to her appointment, Addison Whitelock.

Surveillance cameras from a neighboring business show the two began arguing, and deputies say they can also see Hyacinthe pull out a gun.

Witnesses say he tried firing it not once, but twice, and it didn't go off.

"We're fortunate we're not working a homicide today. Gibson went there with love, jealousy, and rage on his mind," said Sheriff Grady Judd.

At one point, the video appears to show Hyacinthe bend over to pick up one of the live rounds that would not fire.

Perhaps the most shocking part is when he gets in his car and leaves, he nearly runs over man he nearly killed with his gun seconds earlier.

"The only reason Addison is alive, the only reason this isn't a murder investigation is because the firearm didn't work," Judd said.

Hyacinthe's Facebook page shows the couple during happier days of marriage.

According to detectives, the ex-wife told them the two recently tried reconciling, but that ended quickly when she supposedly found naked pictures of other women on his phone and then she moved out.

"He said if I can't have you, than no one can," Judd said.

Investigators fear what could have happened that day if the gun actually worked.

After all, she was not the only one inside the doctors office at the time.

"Why wouldn't he have gone in to finish off his wife who he had already said if I can't have you, no one can," said Judd.

Hyacinthe faces three counts of attempted murder.