Accident – death – Obituary News :

Attempted Burning of “Possessed” Child Ends in Fatal Shooting, Sebring, Florida

By Mark Price

The Sacramento Bee

SEBRING, Fla. — A horrifying incident unfolded in Sebring, Florida, when a frenzied attempt to burn a 9-year-old boy, believed to be possessed, was thwarted by law enforcement. The situation took a tragic turn when a Florida deputy was forced to use lethal force against one of the adults involved, according to investigators.

The individual who was shot and killed by the deputy has been identified as Richard Myron Ham, a 39-year-old man. Witnesses reported that Ham was the one who placed the young boy in the fire, as confirmed by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office in a news release.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, in the town of Sebring, situated approximately 95 miles southeast of Tampa. Despite the harrowing ordeal, the boy managed to escape serious burns by bravely refusing to stay in the flames, officials stated.

The confrontation with Ham initially began when the fire department responded to reports of people burning debris on the side of Bay Blossom Drive. Deputies swiftly arrived at the scene, encountering Ham armed with two metal rods. Despite multiple orders from law enforcement, Ham refused to comply, resulting in the deployment of a taser. However, the taser appeared to have no effect on Ham.

Undeterred, Ham ripped out the taser probes from his body, re-armed himself with one of the metal rods, and swung it, striking one of the deputies in the head. Faced with immediate danger, the deputy discharged his firearm, fatally shooting Ham. Both Ham and the injured deputy were transported to hospitals, where Ham was pronounced dead. The deputy, after receiving medical treatment, was released.

Investigations revealed that Ham and the boy’s mother, Lakenya Lavonn Phillips, were in the process of burning the child’s possessions when the fire department intervened. Shockingly, witnesses reported that Ham believed the boy to be possessed by a demon. At one point, Ham even placed the child into the fire, covering him with a burning blanket. Fortunately, the brave young boy managed to escape this horrifying ordeal.

Authorities had previously reported the boy and his mother as “missing and endangered” on December 6 in Wichita, Kansas. The details of the boy’s injuries sustained during the incident were not disclosed. It remains unclear when and why Ham and Phillips arrived in Highlands County, as they were in a dating relationship.

Immediately after the shooting, Phillips aggressively resisted deputies as they attempted to secure Ham and provide aid. As a result, Phillips, aged 30, has been arrested and is currently held at the Highlands County Jail. She is facing charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and cruelty toward a child.

During the subsequent search of the vehicle used by Ham, law enforcement discovered multiple firearms and drugs. As a result, further investigations will be conducted by the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force.

The deputies involved in this tragic incident will be placed on paid administrative leave for the duration of the investigation.

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