CORRECTION: The original version of this story did not include that the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners moved to reconsider Durr’s appointment at the end of the meeting on Tuesday. Durr is no longer appointed to serve on the Historical Commission.
Original story below:
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Alachua County Commission unknowingly appointed a man recently charged with attempted homicide to a minor county board at its meeting Tuesday afternoon.
Winzoir Von Durr, 73, of Alachua City was one of four candidates being considered for two vacancies on the Alachua County Historical Commission, which is meant to promote, protect and preserve the county’s historic resources, according to the county’s website.
According to an application submitted to the county by Durr for the commission spot, which was included on the county website in the online copy of the meeting’s agenda, Durr is a United States Army veteran and was employed by the Smithsonian Institution. The application was submitted in January.
During public comment, an online viewer called into the meeting and brought Durr’s charge to the county commission’s attention, but didn’t specify which candidate had the charge.
The commission was not aware of the charges. Durr was not present at the meeting.
Commission chair Anna Prizzia said after the caller hung up that the commission would look into the matter further.
Durr was arrested on Valentine’s Day morning for allegedly shooting at a vehicle repossession employee, according to court records.
The victim was at Durr’s home attempting to repossess a vehicle belonging to Durr’s daughter, according to an arrest report by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim later told police that Durr, after a brief conversation between the two, told him he was going into his home to retrieve paperwork. Durr returned with his Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun.
The report states that Durr fired a warning shot at the victim before firing several more shots in an attempt to disable the tires on the victim’s tow truck when he attempted to drive away.
Later that day, after being read his Miranda rights by police, Durr admitted to both firing the warning shot and firing at the victim’s vehicle in an attempt to prevent him from leaving with his daughter’s vehicle, according to the report.
He let police search his home, where his firearm was found in his office. He was later positively identified by the victim. Shell casings were found in Durr’s front yard.
Police recommended that Durr be charged with attempted homicide, a first degree felony, because the shots he fired at the vehicle could have reasonably killed the victim if they had made contact with him, according to the report.
Durr was later released on $15,000 bond.
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