SPRING HILL — A New Port Richey man was arrested on multiple charges after an argument outside a Spring Hill residence turned deadly early Saturday morning.

Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Joshua Michael Nichols, 21, Saturday in connection with the fatal shooting, which occurred outside a home at 16244 Albright Road shortly before 3 a.m. The victim’s name was not released due to the Sheriff’s Office’s interpretation of Marsy’s Law — a state constitutional amendment designed to protect crime victims.

According to the arrest report, Nichols was inside the home with several others when the victim and another man drove to the house and parked outside a perimeter fence. When two others left the home, an argument ensued, prompting Nichols to grab a shotgun and approach the escalating altercation, the report said.

Several witnesses told investigators that Nichols fired the shotgun once at the victim as he stood in the driveway. Nichols then ran back inside the home, left the shotgun in a bedroom and fled north on Albright road, the arrest report said.

He was discovered later by Pasco County deputies and arrested on charges of non-premeditated murder and of being a felon in possession of a firearm, the report said.

Pasco County detectives are still investigating the incident.







