BAKER, Fla., March 24, 2026—A Baker man was arrested after firing a shotgun toward a juvenile last night.

James Knight, 45, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.

Around 8:30 p.m. yesterday, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of shots fired near Skeeter Lane, according to an OCSO release.

An investigation revealed a juvenile near the corner of his family’s property was building a fort and using the flashlight app on his phone.

Knight, who lived nearby, said he believed the individual was an adult and ordered him to leave, then fired a round from a 20-gauge shotgun in the person’s direction in an attempt to scare him away, according to the release.

After the juvenile yelled out in fear, deputies said Knight continued to fire additional rounds towards him, even after acknowledging the juvenile was not on his property line.

Knight told deputies he recognized the teen’s voice as a juvenile. He also stated he was holding the gun at a 45 degree angle.

No injuries were reported.

Deputies determined Knight’s actions created a well-founded fear in the victim, showed he had the ability to carry out the threat and would cause a reasonable person to fear imminent harm.

Knight is being held at the Okaloosa County Jail on $250,000 bond.

Staff and OCSO release