Man killed grandmother before naked arrest, police say

Neighbors say domestic violence was common at Ocoee home

Shawn Fortner.

OCOEE, Fla. – A man stands accused of killing his grandmother in their Ocoee home, then taking police on a chase and finally getting shocked with a stun gun while naked before his arrest.

Police were called Tuesday to 109 South Lakeshore Drive for a well-being check and found 62-year-old Phyllis France dead.

Police said they believe Shawn Fortner, 27, killed his grandmother after an argument, then took her car to Sumter County.  Authorities there used a stun gun to arrest Fortner after he walked into a house while naked and making threats, officials said.

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Someone in the home called 911 and said Fortner may have killed someone in Ocoee. Fortner apparently took police on a chase through Sumter County before his naked arrest.

Several neighbors said the family has had problems ever since they moved in about two years ago. Tuesday, neighbors recalled hearing a loud noise and seeing a car speed away.

"I heard a bang, but I didn't pay any attention to it," said Vera Scott, who lives across the street and has seen many disturbances at the home. "I've seen them fighting and drunk, falling all over the place."

Neighbors said most recently, Fornter head-butted his grandmother. Few were surprised when police came to investigate a homicide.

"I'm surprised that they hadn't killed one another sooner," said Scott.

Fornter remains in jail in Sumter County and he's being held without bond.


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