SPRING HILL, FL – Authorities say a man opened fire with 27 rounds at his wife and two other people late Monday night after the woman returned home with friends who were escorting her for safety, following a period away due to concerns about his violent behavior.

Francis Edward Tully Jr., 58, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder after a tense encounter outside his Spring Hill residence shortly before midnight on July 15. According to investigators, deputies arrived at a home on Deason Drive to find evidence of gunfire, including multiple shell casings littered across the front of the property and inside the house.

Police allege that Tully fired at least five shots through a front-facing window before moving through various rooms inside and continuing to shoot. The targets of his gunfire were his wife, who had been away for several days, as well as a man and a woman who had given her a ride home.

The victim told authorities she had left for several days because she feared her husband’s temper and past incidents of violence. She arranged to have two acquaintances accompany her back to the house in hopes of a safe return. When they arrived, she stayed inside the vehicle and waved to Tully, while her female companion approached the front door to announce her return.

As the woman neared the door, Tully allegedly fired four rounds at her, prompting her to flee back to the car. Investigators say the barrage of shots continued as she returned to the vehicle, with bullets striking the car and narrowly missing the male passenger. No one was hit in the exchange of gunfire.

Detectives say Tully later told them he believed his wife had been abducted, and that his intention was to frighten the group rather than cause harm. According to police reports, Tully described the victims as “running like banshees” as he fired at them.

During interviews with authorities, Tully gave conflicting statements about the events leading up to the shooting. At one point, he claimed one person in the group was armed, but later recanted that assertion. The victims confirmed to deputies that none of them possessed a weapon or threatened Tully in any way.

Investigators noted that Tully’s calls to 911 before deputies arrived did not support a self-defense claim. In his conversations with dispatchers, he reportedly threatened to kill the group if they returned.

Tully was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Pasco County Jail. He is being held on $450,000 bond and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A public defender has been appointed to represent him.

Authorities say the victims were physically unharmed, but the incident has heightened concerns about domestic violence and the safety of those attempting to offer support in volatile situations.