Man, 42, ‘used a crossbow to shoot a bicyclist in the head with an arrow’ before cops caught him with the weapon at a Florida hotel
- Matthew Ross Peters, 42, was accused of using a crossbow to shoot an arrow at a cyclist’s head on Sunday
- Peters allegedly shot Benny Davis, 57, with a crossbow in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
- Davis was a taken to a local hospital where he suffered serious head injuries, but has been released
- Authorities tracked Peters to a Sea Breeze Inn where they conducted surveillance on Tuesday
- Peters was spotted leaving his hotel room with the crossbow, as well as in possession of methamphetamine
Matthew Ross Peters (pictured in mugshot) allegedly shot a crossbow at a cyclists’s head on Sunday evening in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
A Florida man was jailed on Tuesday after allegedly using a crossbow to shot a bicyclist in the head with an arrow.
Matthew Ross Peters, 42, was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail on one count of aggravated battery, one count of firing a deadly missile into a moving vehicle and possession of methamphetamine.
The dangerous incident began Sunday when the victim, Benny Davis, 57, was riding his bike through a Fort Walton Beach neighborhood around 11:15pm, according to a press release.
Suddenly, a man in a 90’s model Ford pickup truck allegedly pulled up beside Davis and used a crossbow to launch an arrow at his head.
Authorities were called to the scene and rendered first aid to Davis. He was transported to the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center for serious head injuries, but has since been released.
The driver, identified as Peters by police, had fled the scene before officers arrived.
A ‘Be on the Lookout’ for the suspected vehicle was put out to local law enforcement.
On Tuesday, a Fort Walton Beach Police detective spotted the suspected vehicle at a local Sea Breeze Inn around 1pm.
Authorities said that Peters was taken into custody after he was seen with the crossbow during surveillance.
Authorities said Peters followed Benny Davis (left) in a Ford pickup before allegedly shooting him in the head with an arrow
‘A perimeter was established at the hotel and surveillance was conducted until 5:30 p.m when the suspect was spotted exiting his room armed with a crossbow,’ the press release said.
‘He was immediately taken into custody without further incident.’
Officers discovered Peters had methamphetamine in his possession, but the exact quantity is unclear.
A subsequent search warrant conducted by officers at Peters’ hotel room revealed additional evidence related to the incident.
Peters is currently awaiting his hearing and a bond amount has not been set.
Anyone with information related to this crime is asked call Detective Zbikowski at the Fort Walton Beach Police Department at 850-833-9537.