Ocala police shoot, kill man in Home Depot parking lot

Staff report
Updated ·2 min read
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Ocala police at the scene of a shooting where an officer shot and killed a man Saturday morning in the parking lot of a Home Depot.

The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. at the Home Depot off State Road 200 in Ocala, just past Interstate 75.

The victim, a white man, has not been identified. Florida Department of Law Enforcement is leading the investigation. The three involved officers are on paid leave pending the results and are being represented by attorney Jimmy Sparrow.

Ocala police on the scene of an officer-involved shooting on State Road 200 in Ocala where a man was shot and killed June 3, 2023.
Ocala police on the scene of an officer-involved shooting on State Road 200 in Ocala where a man was shot and killed June 3, 2023.

At least four witnesses who spoke with the Star Banner said the man could be heard and seen yelling on the phone while sitting in his white sedan minutes before the shooting.

Two people said they heard the man in his car say "They're going to have to kill me." OPD later released a statement that said his mother called the police about him making suicidal threats. Officers were then dispatched to the scene at that point.

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James Whirle, 65, of Dunnellon, said he was parked just five spaces away and was walking into the store when he heard the man yelling. Once inside, he heard a cashier alert customers that a shooting just occurred and people went to take cover.

The three OPD officers who arrived at the parking lot tried to get the man out of the car, according to witnesses. One person, who saw the shooting, as well as Ocala police said the man shot at the officers first as soon as he stepped out of his car. More than a dozen shots were fired in total.

Several customers' cars were within the crime scene perimeter and needed permission from law enforcement prior to leaving.

Eye witness Anita Newton makes her way back to her van at the scene of a shooting where an officer shot and killed a man Saturday morning June 3, 2023, in the parking lot of a Home Depot. The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. at the Home Depot off State Road 200 in Ocala, just past Interstate 75. The victim, a white man, has not been identified. Florida Department of Law Enforcement will lead the investigation. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023

Anita Newton, of Dunnellon, said she saw the commotion while walking into the store and told employees what was happening after hearing the man talk about death.

Once done shopping, Newton loaded bags into her van when shots rang out. She ran and hid in front of her van during the shooting.

"I knew immediately what it was," she said. "I dropped my keys as I was running."

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala police shoot, kill man in Home Depot parking lot