Man shot daughter’s fiancé in Bithlo, falsely blamed drive-by, deputies say

A man shot and killed his daughter’s fiancé during an argument early Sunday in Bithlo, before falsely claiming the killing was the result of a drive-by shooting, an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office found.

According to an arrest affidavit, deputies were called to a home on 12 Avenue in Bithlo about 4:40 a.m., arriving to find 24-year-old Nathan Johnson, who had been shot in his chest.

He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead about 8:50 a.m.

A detective interviewed Johnson’s fiancé, with whom he has three children. According to the affidavit, she told investigators that Johnson had been arguing with her father, Justin Mullins, in the front yard of the home prior to the shooting.

Both men were intoxicated, she reportedly said.

She told the detective that she heard a gunshot and turned around to see Johnson on the ground. She identified Mullins as the shooter, the affidavit said.

However, Mullins told investigators at the shooting scene that someone driving by had fired the shot that killed Johnson.

In a second interview, Mullins’ daughter provided additional details that undermined his claim, the affidavit states.

She said Mullins was angry at Johnson because he believed Johnson had pulled his wife’s hair. The day before, Mullins had purchased a handgun “off the street” that he had in his waistband, his daughter told deputies. She also said there was no car speeding by or any other people present when the shooting happened.

The daughter told deputies she confronted her father after Johnson was taken to the hospital. Her dad’s reply, according to the affidavit: “I didn’t mean to do it.”

In an interview at a Sheriff’s Office substation, Mullins again claimed that Johnson was killed in a drive-by and said his daughter would be the best witness for deputies to interview.

Investigators then played back parts of their interview with Mullins daughter.

“At one point when she confirmed that he in fact shot Nathan Johnson, he became enraged and ended the interview,” the affidavit states.

Mullins, 37, faces a charge of first-degree murder with a firearm. He’s being held without bail in the Orange County Jail.