- December 16, 2025
+ Merill 911 call: ‘I never leave it loaded!’
William Carson Merrill, 32, who called 911 after shooting his wife with an AK-47 Feb. 21 at their Covington Lane home, told the 911 operator the morning of the incident, “I never leave it loaded!”
Merrill said he was shining the laser light of the gun on his wife, Stefanie, 30, and pulled the trigger, presumably assuming it would not fire. He told the operator they had been talking about how bright the laser was. He has since been charged with manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
An operator talked him through basic first aid while medical personnel traveled to the scene. The operator also advised to make sure the gun wasn’t within reach of the 3-year-old in the bathtub.
One neighbor is heartbroken over the tragedy, which she calls a “careless” accident — without malice.
“We live around the corner from where the Merrills lived,” Linda Fonzo wrote via email. “We have two dogs and talked to Carson whenever we saw him while we were walking our dogs. They had Bob Barker, who is an English bulldog. ... He looks vicious but is really a sweet, playful dog. ...
“Carson seemed like a very nice and caring father and person. We never saw any angry words or anything between them.”
Fonzo continued: “This is a sad, terrible tragedy for all of them. For sure, he was careless and shouldn’t have had firearms in the house if he was a convicted felon. Our dogs now look for Bob Barker any time we walk past the house. … We often saw Stefanie outside on their porch and waved at her. We are all saddened by this terrible accident.”
+ Palm Coast man arrested after report by pizza man
Jaquez Roland, 34, of Palm Coast, was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 22, on multiple felony warrants for crimes occurring within a two-week period, in October, in Flagler County.
A female inside Roland’s home told deputies the day of the arrest that he wasn’t there, but a pizza delivery had just been made, and the delivery man was able to identify the customer as Roland. Roland is being held in the Flagler County Inmate Facility on $429,000 bail.
+ Public meetings
Palm Coast City Council — the next regular meeting is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at the Palm Coast Community Center.
Flagler County Board of County Commissioners — the next regular meeting is 9 a.m. Monday, March 5, at the Government Services Building.
Flagler County Economic Opportunity Council — the next regular meeting (and first with new EOAC Director Helga van Eckert) is 9 a.m. March 7, at the Government Services Building.
Flagler County School Board — the next regular workshop/meeting is 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 6, at the Flagler Auditorium.
Prescription Drug Forum — a community forum on prescription drug abuse will be 6 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at 1769 State Road 100.
