A man accused of murdering his uncle in Sebring, Florida, earlier this month allegedly survived a gunshot wound to the head, reportedly telling police that he believes he is Jesus Christ and that it is impossible for him to die.
The accused was arrested this week after being treated at a local hospital and charged with murder in the shooting death of 65-year-old Thomas Markland.
A portion of the incident, which unfolded in Sebring, Florida, was purportedly heard by dispatchers when Thomas Markland called 911 and said that he had shot his nephew in self-defense.
Then, gunshots were reportedly heard and Phillip Markland placed a second call to tell police that he had been shot — and that he killed his uncle, according to Highlights Today.
“I shot him dead,” he reportedly said.
A warrant affidavit provides additional allegations, including the claim that, rather than simply acting in self-defense, Phillip Markland reacted “excessively,” shooting 25 bullets at his uncle’s head, chest and other areas of his body.
According to police, he later told an officer that “it was impossible for him to die because he is Jesus Christ.”
He purportedly made this comment while being treated in the days before his arrest at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida, Highlands County’s News Sun reported.
At least two witnesses also told authorities that Phillip Markland made a similar statement at a family event before killing his uncle.
“The defendant repeatedly stated that he was Jesus Christ and soon enough he was going to ‘take everyone home.’ The defendant said he ‘wanted to apologize for what (he) was going to do next, however ‘he could not speak of it now,’” the arrest report read. “The defendant also said ‘the time is near, the time is soon’ and soon everyone will know.”
Phillip Markland, who was apparently in town at the time of the incident for a Father’s Day event, has been charged with second-degree murder.
Police say he was known to use K-2, which is synthetic cannabis.
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