OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A 21-year-old Ocala man was arrested on an aggravated battery charge after deputies say he shot his stepfather during a domestic dispute at a Marion County residence.
Deputies responded shortly after midnight on Monday, June 15, 2026, to a home in the Dunnellon area following reports of a shooting. When they arrived, investigators said they learned an argument inside the kitchen escalated into a physical confrontation that ended with a firearm being discharged.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the victim and the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Malachi Taylor, were in the kitchen when a verbal exchange began after the victim made comments about Taylor’s weight and made physical contact by pinching his stomach.
The report states Taylor admitted to drawing the firearm during the confrontation. He told investigators he intended to fire a “warning shot,” but the round struck the victim in the left forearm. The victim suffered a single gunshot wound with both entry and exit injuries and was transported for medical treatment.
Taylor told deputies he believed he was acting in self-defense and attempted to render aid after the shooting, Investigators noted the victim did not report making threats during the incident.
The suspect gave multiple and conflicting statements about how the firearm was handled, including whether it was pointed at the victim or discharged upward or toward the ceiling. Authorities also reported the firearm was later recovered after being thrown outside the residence prior to law enforcement’s arrival.
Taylor was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail. He faces a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a felony.