OCALA, Fla. – The Ocala Police Department is looking for two more suspects who are accused of beating and robbing a man earlier this month.
The department is searching for 32-year-old Darrielle Murphy and 33-year-old Keshana Oliver, two of the three suspects in the case.
[TRENDING: Video shows man trying to kidnap Fla. girl | Deputy guilty of planting drugs in cars | ‘Hangry’ gator chases Wendy’s customers]
According to police, officers responded to a call on May 2 that a 48-year-old man was beaten with a baseball bat and shovel by three people in the 2000 block of W. State Road 40. Police said the suspects took his wallet with $500, leaving him in the median of the roadway.
“To be out there with a shovel and a bat beating someone is pretty bold. There’s significant traffic out there most of the time,” said Captain Angy Scroble.
The man had multiple skull injuries and fractured vertebrae as a result of the beating, according to police. According to an arrest affidavit, the man was placed in a medically induced coma when he was taken to the hospital due to his injuries.
The report says once the man was out of the coma, he told police that Murphy was mad at him because Murphy wanted to marry his girlfriend and the victim did not approve.
Officials said they were able to identify Murphy, Oliver and 19-year-old Jakecio Pollard as the three suspects. Pollard has already been arrested and faces robbery with a deadly weapon and attempted felony murder charges.
According to the arrest report, Pollard said the victim was his uncle and he was trying to protect him during the altercation. The report went on to say, “Pollard stated he attempted to help his uncle and stand between him and the suspects.
Pollard also said that his uncle hit him with a shovel and when asked why his uncle would hit him if he was protecting him, Pollard stated ‘I don’t know.’ Police asked why Pollard didn’t stay with his uncle and render aid if he was protecting him. Pollard stated he was scared because he had a warrant.”
Scroble said investigators have been interviewing witnesses for weeks.
“A lot of what happened had to do with tracking down witnesses and part of it was the recovery of our victim, we needed to speak with the victim,” said Scroble.
According to witnesses, the victim and suspects were involved in some sort of altercation that led to the attack.
“We just hope people will reach out so we can get everyone in custody so we can close this case for the victim,” said Scroble.
Ocala police said one of the suspects, Oliver, called them days after the attack saying she wanted to clear her name. They scheduled an interview with her at Ocala police headquarters, but said she never showed up.
Murphy and Oliver face the same charges as Pollard. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 352-369-7000 or Crime Stoppers of Marion County to submit an anonymous tip at 352-368-7867.