Report: Tempers Flare, Shots Fired, Charges Lodged in Plant City Case

Two men facing a collective nine charges were taken into custody after shots were fired at the Plant City home of one of the men, Brandan Berg, who was confronted by a third man over an allegedly unpaid debt, according to a report from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

According to the report, Gabriel Navarrete, 21, with his girlfriend, Diamond Bautista, 20, attempted to seek repayment of a debt from Berg, 21, who lives at 3405 Keene Road in Plant City.

At Berg's home at the time was his friend Raymond Anthony Cook-Underwood, 19, who during the confrontation brandished a semi-automatic pistol "and fired four rounds into the air and ground," according to the report. "He then shot Navarette in the thigh."

Paramedics arrived at the scene and took Navarette to the Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment, according to the report.

Soon on the scene was Navarette's brother, the report notes. "When Navarette's brother saw Berg, he took a baseball bat and smashed Berg's car windshield."

Reportedly in retaliation, Berg then took a barbell and shattered the rear and passenger-side windows of Navarette's girlfriend's car, which Bautista at the time was seated inside.

Berg and Cook-Underwood then fled.

"Witnesses say Berg shot the pistol at least twice in the air while he was driving down the road," according to the report. Deputies reportedly pulled over Berg's car in the Publix parking lot near Interstate 4 and Thonotosassa Road.

Berg and Underwood-Cook were taken into custody. They reportedly face the following charges:

• Underwood-Cook — aggravated battery with a firearm, three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and discharging a firearm in public (misdemeanor).

• Berg — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm from a moving vehicle, and felony criminal mischief.

Detectives had not yet determined if additional charges would be filed in the case.