Background: Neighborhood in Lithia, Florida where shooting of Herbert Harris occurred on May 10, 2024 (via Google Maps). Inset: Christian Freebourn booking photo (via Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office).
Christian Freebourn of Florida is charged with second-degree murder after police say he shot his 57-year-old would-be neighbor five times after the neighbor emerged from his home to find Freebourn’s U-Haul truck crashed into his balcony. Freebourn has pleaded not guilty.
The shooting occurred in May in Lithia, Florida, and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s arrest records show Freebourn, 28, was arrested on June 21. No bond was set and he remains booked at the Falkenburg Road Jail. Arrest records indicate Freebourn is a supervisor for a national home construction and real estate company.
State prosecutors say Freebourn shot Herbert Harris outside of his home, once in his eye and twice in the neck. Harris was shot in his leg and in his upper chest as well. Police said that Freebourn told them it was self-defense prompted by Harris coming out of his house, surveying the damage and telling Freebourn he would have to pay for it.
According to a motion from prosecutors seeking his detention:
The defendant advised he would; however, the victim continued to be upset and argue with him, so he sternly told the victim to go back inside.
The victim responded by saying “Make me”, “Squared up” and took a step toward him. The defendant advised he took a step back told the victim “Please don’t do this, I have a firearm. I have a concealed weapon permit. I don’t want to do this”.
The defendant advised the victim responded by saying “I have a gun too” and took a step toward him. The defendant advised he did not see a firearm on the victim’s
person and did not know if the victim meant he had a gun on him or inside his home. The defendant advised he backed up a second time and told the victim “Please don’t do this.”The victim stepped toward him again and they stood face to face for several seconds before the defendant advised the victim “came forward”.
Freebourn claims Harris next came at him with his arms raised in the air “in a ‘Bear hug’ like motion” and that’s when Freebourn said he opened fire. Harris died at the scene.
Court records show that Harris was at home with his girlfriend when Freebourn is accused of hitting the house with his moving truck. The girlfriend told police she heard a loud crash, peered outside of a window and saw that the moving truck had collided with their balcony and the truck was now in a neighbor’s parking spot. Harris’ girlfriend said the couple went outside to inspect the crash and saw Freebourn with his juvenile brother. The fatal argument ensued. She also told police after the shooting that at one point, Freebourn flashed a gun in his waistband at them.
Freebourn claims the whole episode with the U-Haul was an accident and Harris wouldn’t calm down after that initial jarring interaction. Though the 28-year-old told police he was acting in self-defense, sheriffs reported after the shooting that Freebourn said he did not see a gun on Harris but Harris had told him he had one. Whether Harris’ gun was inside his home or concealed somewhere on his person was unclear, Freebourn allegedly said.
He also told police he was “concerned” a previous wrist injury and rotator cuff injury from jujitsu training as well as the size disparity between himself and the larger Harris would “lead to the victim taking his firearm; however, he never advised he was in fear for his life due to the victim’s actions.”
Freebourn’s teenage brother who rode in the moving truck with him told police he did not see what happened during the shooting but only heard his elder brother tell Harris to go back inside his house. Then, the 13-year-old boy allegedly got back into the truck at his brother’s command and waited for several seconds before he heard four gunshots ring out. A neighbor also told police they heard “loud talking” outside before four to five gunshots. The witness told police they looked outside and “saw the defendant standing in the center of the roadway with his arms outstretched, pointing toward the driveways.”
The witness could not see a firearm; however and told police they believed he had one based on how he was standing.
A public motion to set bond filed by his attorney notes that Freebourn has no prior criminal record, has worked as a construction manager for three years and that he is a father with a 1-year-old child and his wife is seven months pregnant.
His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
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