Volusia County man charged after shooting landlord/boss in the face, deputies say

A Volusia County man is charged with attempted first-degree murder with a firearm after shooting his landlord in the face, Volusia sheriff's officials said Wednesday.

Fredie Vale, 47, drove onto the victim's Enterprise property, where Vale also lives, shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday and handed the 77-year-old man a hatchet upon approaching him, according to a sheriff's office news release. Vale snatched the hatchet back and began swinging it at the man, who also is his boss.

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The man fought back when Vale jumped on him, trying to strike him with the hatchet, the release stated. Vale then retrieved a gun from his barn apartment on the Enterprise Osteen Road property and shot the victim in his left cheek.

The suspect fled the property and was found later that night outside Walmart in Deltona, according to the sheriff's office. The victim is in stable condition at Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford.

Vale is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail, without bail, following his first appearance Wednesday afternoon, records show.