A 32-year-old man from Jacksonville has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for possession of firearms by a felon after injuring himself with explosives in his backyard, a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Florida states.
According to court documents, on November 25, 2023, emergency medical techs (EMTs), the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD), and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) responded to a 911 call of shots fired at a residence along Rugby Road in Jacksonville.
Upon arrival, JFRD and EMTs encountered William Earl Union Jr., who had sustained what appeared to be penetration wounds near his chest and multiple injurites to his hands, including what appeared to be burns with a potential connection to explosives. EMTs promptly transported Union to the hospital to receive medical treatment.
JSO officers observed blood drops that trailed from the front porch of the home back to the center of the backyard. Officers entered the backyard to conduct a protective sweep of the area, following the blood trail to what appeared to be a blast site near a stone fire pit.