MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A man fired several shots toward another man and four children near an Ocala neighborhood Wednesday, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said deputies responded to the 5200 block of SE 31st Street where they found a 27-year-old man with gunshot wounds. Authorities said four children were outside a home with the victim when the shooting happened, according to a report.
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According to deputies, 25-year-old Searron Brooks III shot at the man and the children from a vehicle and later ran after the 27-year-old victim, shooting at him. Deputies said in an arrest affidavit Brooks III shot at the victim who was carrying a toddler at the time. After shooting the victim, authorities said Brooks III went back into his vehicle and fled.
An arrest affidavit says detectives were told by a woman who lives with the victim that he told her Brooks III shot him. She told authorities the suspect has had an issue with the victim since 2016 when the victim shot Brooks III’s brother, according to the report.
Deputies said the children, ranging in age from 1 to 7 years old, were uninjured. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
The suspect was taken into custody after a traffic stop in Ocala Thursday and was taken to the Marion County Jail.
He faces charges of attempted homicide, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and four counts of aggravated assault.