OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A mother and her five-year-old child were reportedly shot while traveling in a car Monday night after leaving the scene of a neighborhood disturbance in northeast Ocala.
Members of the Ocala Police Department were called to an altercation out in public at the Sutton Place apartment complex on the evening of Monday, September 14, 2026. Officers arrived at approximately 8 p.m. and took about 40 minutes to restore peace, according to statements made by Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken during a press release on Tuesday.
A family of three–a father, mother and five-year-old–left that disturbance and traveled to another nearby apartment complex before heading home for the evening, said Balken. At about 9:45 p.m., the car was fired upon by the occupants of another vehicle; the mother and five-year-old were struck, but the family was able to drive their vehicle to a nearby hospital.
Both victims are expected to survive.
Balken said the OPD is confident the family was followed from the earlier altercation by the vehicle driven by their assailants.
Balken said the case was unfolding quickly, but declined to discuss specifics as to possible suspects, and asked that anyone with information about the incident call the OPD at 352-369-7000.