A 32-year-old man is accused of shooting and killing his neighbor at an Orange County apartment complex over loud music and noise, according to the sheriff’s office.
Michael Thrasher was arrested on Wednesday, a week after the fatal shooting.
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On January 21, deputies arrived at the 1200 block of Moselle Avenue, near Old Cheney Highway and State Road 436, where they discovered 38-year-old Arnold Rapatalo with a gunshot wound. He was rushed to the hospital and eventually died.
According to an affidavit for an arrest warrant, Thrasher left his apartment to confront Rapatalo about the loud music and noise coming from it.
According to the sheriff’s office, security video shows Thrasher kicking and banging on Rapatalo’s door, even attempting to use the door handle to force entry. After Rapatalo opened the door, authorities said the video showed Thrasher pushing it open even farther and sticking his foot out to hold it.
According to deputies, the two argued before getting physical, and Thrasher hit Rapatalo at least once before leaving Rapatalo’s residence. While the two were arguing outside the apartment, Thrasher backed up, grabbed a revolver from his waistband, and shot Rapatalo once in the chest, according to deputies.
“It was just a big boom, like a shotgun blast,” said Derek Williams, who lives nearby.
Brandon Fletcher, who also lives close, described it as a tragedy.
“I think that’s a very tragic situation. Nobody should ever die over something like music,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher feels Thrasher’s actions may have been appropriate, and that the courts will finally decide.
Others vehemently disagree.
Luis Velaz, a local gun owner, said, “We’re trained. We’re responsible gun owners. We only use them in life-or-death situations. This was not a life-or-death situation. This was just somebody trying to walk around and be tough.”
Thrasher is charged with first-degree murder (involved in burglary) and armed burglary of an occupied dwelling with violence.
