Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office are currently conducting a shooting investigation at a residence at 227 Avery Avenue in Crystal Beach.
The shooting occurred at about 12:02 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2020.
Deputies responded to the residence after several residents reported hearing a gunshot. They located one adult male victim with a gunshot wound.
The victim, 36 year-old Ralph Paulk III, was transported to the a landing zone at Palm Harbor University High School and medivaced to a local trauma center with life threatening injuries.
The victim’s brother, Alexander Michael Paulk, aka Alexander Wiesner, age 28 of 227 Avery Avenue, was arrested and facing charges of attempted murder (domestic) and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Investigators say that there was a domestic argument upstairs between the victim and his brother. The argument continued with both brothers coming outside and downstairs to the landing area of the staircase. As they were arguing, they were joined by their father, 61 year-old Ralph Paulk Jr.
Detectives say during the argument, Alexander commented he had something for this brother and produced a handgun. Alexander fired one round into the lower abdomen of his older brother Eddie.
Detectives say Alexander immediately left the scene on foot carrying a bag but returned a short time later without such bag. When interviewed by detectives, Alexander claimed to not know about the incident.
According the arrest affidavit, the brothers constantly argued about drug related problems and the Alexander had made numerous statements in the past that we wanted to kill his brother.
He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Saturday morning and held on $250,000 bond.