Man & Woman Charged After Dispute Leads To Shooting

Bunnell, FL – A Bunnell man and woman are now facing multiple charges after a domestic dispute led to a shooting that injured a man’s arm. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) says deputies were called to a Nutwood Avenue home on Tuesday (March 23rd) after dispatch received a 911 call from someone who said they had been shot in the arm an hour before. Help eventually arrived for the man, who was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach for treatment. Once the victim was at the hospital, he told investigators that he believed he had been shot because he had been fighting with his girlfriend, 40-year-old Nichole Beard, earlier that day. The victim then added that their arguments with Beard had become physical before. According to a report provided by FCSO, the victim alleges that Beard first stabbed him in the right arm with a pen, then a drill bit in his left arm, all during the same day he was shot. This caused him to leave Beard’s residence. A while after he was stabbed, the victim returned to Beard’s home to retrieve a toaster and found 51-year-old Dwayne Dameron standing outside waiting for him. The victim stated that Dameron would not let him near the trailer, threw the toaster at the ground near his feet, and threatened him with a silver revolver. At some point, the victim kicked Dameron’s pickup truck, which is when Dameron drew the revolver and shot the victim in his left arm. Per the victim’s narrative, Dameron was immediately apologetic and said he was only trying to fire a warning shot. Dameron then gave the revolver to Beard and offered to bring the victim to his home so he could render aid. At Dameron’s home, he applied bandages to the victim’s wound and offered him a vehicle so he could drive back to his own home. The victim additionally told deputies that he was reluctant to call law enforcement because he did not want Dameron to get in trouble—as Dameron reportedly takes care of his elderly mother at home—but felt he had no choice as he wound would not stop bleeding. Deputies then made contact with Beard, who said the arguments did get physical, but she claimed she was only acting in self-defense. When asked about the shooting, Beard said she invited Dameron over after she fought with the victim, but she did not see the shooting. Beard also confirmed that she did take the revolver from Dameron before he and the victim left the scene and returned it to him when he came back. Beard added that Dameron said he planned to burn the clothes he wore when the shooting occurred. She was arrested after her interview with deputies. The following day (March 24th), after securing a search warrant, deputies conducted a search of Dameron’s residence, where he was taken into custody. When asked, Dameron admitted to shooting the victim but claimed it was accidental. Dameron additionally told investigators that he had buried the gun and burned the clothing he wore during the shooting. However, both the firearm and his clothing were recovered. Beard was charged with domestic battery and Dameron was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Both remain in custody at the Flagler County Jail, where Beard was given a $1,500 bond and Dameron was given no bond.