Clearwater, Florida

From TampaBays10.com of November 18, 2005

Standoff Update: Evidence conflicts with victims statements; shooting may have been self-defense

Three people shot by a next-door neighbor may have lied about what occurred, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office indicated Friday.

"After conducting numerous interviews and reviewing evidence collected in this case, Sheriff's detectives advise that the early statements provided by the subjects who were shot did in fact conflict with evidence collected at the scene of the shooting," the Pinellas Sheriff's Office reported Friday night.

Hours after the shooting and ensuing stand-off with police, investigators revealed there was a fourth person present at the time of the shooting.

Miles Bailey Jr., a friend of the victims, told detectives the victims "were actually on the front porch" of the home of the gunman, Jeffrey Devries. Bailey said they did not touch his door, but were on the porch to read signs posted on the door.

"Mr. Devries said he saw the four on his front porch and said they were pounding on his door," detectives said. "Concerned and afraid they were trying to enter his house, he shot six rounds through the front door."

The victims originally reported they were in the street in front of Mr. Devries house when the shots were fired.

"However, the forensic evidence collected does not corroborate the statement," detectives said.

Detectives said their investigation was continuing.