TV20 obtained the arrest report after officers took a suspected shooter into custody, accused of killing a man in what the Ocala Police Department called a random act of violence.
On Thursday, TV20 learned that the suspect, IT, has pleaded not guilty to the following charges.
According to the report, a neighbor called 911 to report a suspicious person, later identified as IT, 29, walking on Southeast Third Street, in Ocala’s historic district. The caller reported seeing T chamber a bullet in a silver gun.
Moments later, neighbors called 911 to report that Harold Harper, 64, had been shot in his front yard. When officers arrived, they found Harper dead with a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Officers found T a short distance away on Southeast Fifth Street. He had a loaded 9mm pistol in his hoodie.
During their initial investigation, a single shell casing was discovered next to Harpers lifeless body. That shell casing was later identified as a match for the pistol T was carrying.
The report also revealed, officers searched a backpack T was carrying, two find two magazines, both loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition.
A neighbor told investigators that she was inside her home when she heard the gunshot. She stepped outside and could see Harper’s wife outside saying, “My husband’s dead.”
Family members told officers that Harper was in the front yard gardening at the time of the shooting. He’s recently had major surgery on his neck and used gardening as a form of therapy. He didn’t have any tools other than a bucket for collecting weeds.
Officers do not believe T and Harper knew each other and aren’t aware of any connection between the men.
Mayor Ben Marciano shared the following video message on social media on Thursday in response to the shooting.
Neighbors tell TV20 Harper’s murder is devastating to the neighborhood.
“He is a wonderful neighbor. His passion was gardening, and that’s what he’s left to do. He kept his yard well-groomed all the time, and he left the outdoors. Just very, very nice man always says hello to anybody,” said Joan Zoeller, a neighbor.
Other neighbors shared they are afraid of living in Ocala, and that this kind of crime has been running rampant, as community members have begun taking full advantage of Florida’s open-carry laws.
“Well to me it’s scary. I mean, Ocala in my opinion is a scary place. I lived in New York for a number of years and I actually felt safer in New York than I do in Ocala,” said Billy McLean, a nearby neighbor.
T is now behind bars and was charged with second degree murder and aggravated assault.
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Source: wcjb
