OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Ocala Police Department (OPD) says they have arrested a man in connection to a New Year’s Day shooting that left two dead and four injured.
What happened
Police say they responded to a shooting on New Year’s Day just after 4:30 a.m. in the 1600 block of Southwest 5th Street. Their investigation, revealed a small group ambushed a block party of about 100 people, shooting randomly into the crowd.
OPD says 30-year-old D’amonta Harris and 24-year-old Abdul Hakeem Van Croskey died in the shooting.
During the course of the investigation, detectives developed 19-year-old Lebron M. Jones as a suspect in the shooting.
Early Wednesday, Nov. 22, officers arrested Jones and posted a video of patrol officers taking him in on the department’s Facebook page. Jones is now charged with two counts of second-degree murder with a firearm and four counts of attempted second degree murder with a firearm.
More details
According to a redacted arrest report, detectives say Jones was one of three who jumped out of a pickup truck armed with guns described as an AR-15 style rifle and two handguns.
A witness told police that prior to the shooting, several women began to fight. Moments later, the witness says they heard gunshots.
According to the arrest report, members of two known criminal gangs – Zak and MWay – were at the party. Detectives say after the initial shooting, others returned fire from different sides of the house.
The report says one of the bystanders standing next to Harris said she heard several gunshots come from the north side of the road, and then later shots came from everywhere else. Another party goer stated that there were also shots from the north side, and they believe that someone else may have returned fire.
OPD says Jones denied being at the party.
The report says the evidence they have contradicting that claim includes witness interviews, an anonymous tip and Jones’ cell phone records which they say not only place him in the area but also include a photo of Jones posing with his firearm in Ocala. They say the gun in the photo matches shell casings collected at the scene. And, they say they also have videos of Jones at the party.
“I believe Jones was part of the group which began the ambush shooting into the crowd from the north side of SW 5th Street resulting in the deaths and injuries,” said detectives in the arrest affidavit.
Search for others
OPD says this is still an active investigation and are asking anyone with any additional information call tips to Crime Stoppers by dialing ***TIPS. You can also submit a tip online here.