Woman Faces 2nd Degree Murder Charge for Shooting Her Uncle During Family Gathering

BEVERLY HILLS – A family gathering turned deadly Thursday, after a woman allegedly shot and killed her uncle during a domestic dispute.

Officials with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office say around 2:45 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a residence on North Columbus street in reference to a shooting. When deputies entered the residence, they found 44-year-old Matthew Charles Driggers dead from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Upon further investigation, deputies were able to locate and recover the firearm used during this incident. The preliminary investigation supported witness statements that the suspect, 20-year-old Sammantha Danielle Driggers used the firearm to shoot her uncle.

Driggers, who was still inside the residence, was taken into custody and transported to CCSO's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for an interview and to collect additional forensics evidence.

Driggers was subsequently charged with 2nd Degree Murder and is currently held on a $500,000 bond.

"A family gathering to celebrate the holiday season should have been a time of happiness, but instead turned deadly in an instant," said Sheriff Prendergast. "This act of violence has shocked our community and will affect this family forever. I am proud of the quick response of CCSO deputies and detectives that ensured this incident was isolated and the community was safe. Our thoughts go out to this family as they begin the long process of healing."

Officials have not released details into what led to Driggers shooting her uncle.