Ocala police shoot man who ran from mental health clinic, department says

OCALA, Fla. – A 23-year-old man is in critical condition after being shot by Ocala police on Sunday, according to the department.

Ocala officers responded around 12:21 p.m. after the man allegedly ran off from The Vines Hospital, a mental health clinic that his family members were said to be attempting to check him into before he “fled the area acting erratic.”

Officers located the man by 12:38 p.m. near the 5500 block of SW 27th Avenue, about a mile and a half south of the mental health clinic. When contact was made, police determined “the subject was an immediate threat” and shot him, according to a statement on social media.

Police later said that the man was armed with pepper spray and a knife when contact was made by officers.

The man was taken to an HCA hospital for treatment of critical injuries and no officers were harmed in the shooting, the statement reads. It was not immediately shared if one or multiple officers’ bullets struck him.

“The subject is out of surgery and has additional pending medical procedures. The subject is in serious condition,” Ocala police said on social media.

An investigation of the incident is ongoing — involving the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, following standard protocol — and more details were promised when available, police said.

Note: This map depicts the general area of this shooting and not necessarily its exact location.

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