ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A 32-year-old man is accused of shooting and killing his neighbor at an Orange County apartment complex over loud music and noise, according to the sheriff’s office.
Michael Thrasher was arrested Wednesday, one week after the fatal shooting.
Deputies responded on Jan. 21 to the 1200 block of Moselle Avenue near Old Cheney Highway and State Road 436, where they found 38-year-old Arnold Rapatalo with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
According to an affidavit for arrest warrant, deputies said Thrasher left his apartment to confront Rapatalo about loud music and noise that was emanating from his apartment.
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The sheriff’s office said surveillance video showed Thrasher kicking and banging on Rapatalo’s door, including trying the door handle, to force entry. Once Rapatalo opened the door, deputies said the video showed Thrasher push open door even more and stick his foot out to keep the door open.
Deputies said the two argued before it turned physical and Thrasher hit Rapatalo at least once before the two went back outside Rapatalo’s apartment. While the two were fighting outside the apartment, Thrasher backed up, pulled a gun from his waistband and shot once toward Rapatalo’s chest, deputies said.
“It was just a big boom, like a shotgun blast,” said Derek Williams, who lives nearby.
Thrasher faces charges of first-degree murder (engaged in burglary) and armed burglary of an occupied dwelling with battery.