SPRING HILL, FL — A 51-year-old Florida man was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after deputies say he shot and killed his neighbor during a dispute over loud music coming from the victim’s vehicle on Tuesday afternoon.
Tony Deuser faces murder charges in the death of 52-year-old Francis Biegaj, who was fatally shot twice outside his home on Gillian Circle after refusing to turn down music from his buggy. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m. when Deuser confronted Biegaj about the volume, left the scene, then returned moments later and opened fire before walking back to his own residence.
According to the sheriff’s office, a family member called 911 after finding Biegaj bleeding from his arm without knowing what had happened. Deputies arrived to find shell casings in the driveway and what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the victim’s left shoulder. Hernando County Fire Rescue immediately began life-saving measures on Biegaj, who was transported to a local hospital but pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Witnesses told investigators they heard several gunshots and saw a man walking away from Biegaj’s home carrying what appeared to be a pistol.
Deputies responded to Deuser’s residence at 89 Gillian Circle and surrounded the home, attempting multiple times to get occupants to come outside. After unsuccessful contact attempts, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and Crisis Response Team arrived and were able to get Deuser to leave the home and surrender. During questioning, Deuser told investigators he became upset with Biegaj over loud music coming from his buggy. According to Deuser’s statement to police, when Biegaj refused to lower the volume and told Deuser to leave his property, Deuser shot him twice before returning home.
Neighbor Dale Jarbis described the loud music from Biegaj’s buggy as routine, often playing for short bursts throughout the day, but said what happened next left him stunned. “It’s just one of those things. I don’t get it,” Jarbis told reporters. He characterized Biegaj as a generous and kind person who frequently helped others. “Fran was… he had a heart of gold. He’d give anybody anything,” Jarbis said. Neighbors said Biegaj had recently upgraded the sound system in his buggy and was preparing for a camping trip, with playing music from the vehicle being something those nearby had grown accustomed to hearing.
The shooting has left the quiet Hernando County neighborhood reeling after what residents describe as a sudden and senseless act of violence. Biegaj leaves behind a wife and four children, according to investigators. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly everyday conflicts can escalate into deadly violence, transforming what started as a common neighborhood complaint into a fatal confrontation. One neighbor who witnessed the aftermath described hearing a child’s screams following the gunshot.
Deuser remains in custody at the Hernando County Detention Center without bond. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with deputies continuing to process evidence and interview witnesses. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-TIPS or text **TIPS from a cell phone.
