Archer man charged with attempted homicide after allegedly shooting romantic rival

Staff report

ARCHER, Fla. – Patrick Boss King, 35, of Archer, was arrested yesterday on a warrant for a June 25 shooting in Archer.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 15100 block of SW 170th Street in Archer at about 9:53 p.m. on June 25 and found a male victim with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was transported to the hospital and survived the injury.

The investigation found that King was known to the victim and that both men were romantically involved with the same woman. Detectives reportedly reviewed video evidence that showed King arriving at the victim’s residence and knocking on the door before telling the victim he had a “9” he wanted to sell him. The victim answered the door and talked to King, then King can be seen brandishing the gun and firing one shot.

The report states that the victim can be heard screaming in pain on the video, then King tried to enter the residence, but the victim started throwing things at him, causing King to fall down the outside stairs; King is shown trying to re-rack the slide of his gun, and then he entered the residence before running back out the door.

Four gunshots were reportedly heard from inside the residence; the shots were presumably fired in self-defense by the victim, and a revolver was reportedly found inside the residence with four spent casings.

King was not located at the time, and a warrant was issued for his arrest on July 12 on charges of attempted murder, armed burglary of an occupied dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and use of a firearm during a felony.

King also had an active warrant for arson from an April 13 incident in which he allegedly burned down the tent of a homeless man while his girlfriend stood by with a gun, causing the victim to be afraid of intervening to stop the arson. The victim reportedly took pictures during the incident and provided them to a Gainesville Police Department officer.

King has nine felony convictions (two violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2019. Judge Walter Green set bail at $725,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.