Youth group revises emergency plan following Oct. 5 shooting incident in parking lot

Photo courtesy Marion County Youth Football League

Officials with the Marion County Youth Football League have put revised safety and security measures into place in the wake of an Oct. 5 shooting with injuries that took place in a parking lot as an MCYFL game was scheduled to be played in a nearby city park.

According to an Oct. 8 Ocala Police Department Facebook post, Ewonye Jyiell Pinkney, 18, was arrested on charges including aggravated battery with a firearm, public firearm discharge from a vehicle, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent and carrying a concealed firearm in connection with the incident.

OPD Detective Grosso determined that “(Pinkney) was riding in a vehicle driven by Kayla Jarrell, 19, when he fired several rounds towards a known subject. The rounds instead struck the innocent bystander,” the post indicated.

An OPD post indicated that a man suffered “non-life-threatening injuries to his leg” in the incident, which happened in a parking lot at Jervey Gantt Park, 2200 SE 36th Ave., Ocala.

MCYFL President Vince Arnold posted on the MCYFL Facebook page a few days after the incident.

“While it is reassuring to know that no children were injured and that the situation took place outside our gates, we understand that such events can be very alarming for our community,” Arnold wrote in part.

“I want to emphasize that the safety and well-being of our children and families remain our top priority. We commend the Ocala Police Department, and all the first responders involved, for their swift action, which allowed us to implement our active shooter plan and successfully secure the facility during the lockdown,” he stated.

An Oct. 9 Facebook post indicated Arnold and the group’s vice president met with OPD officials to “review and update” their emergency plan and the post listed these steps:

• No Re-Entry: If you choose to leave the facility, there will be no re-entry. If you wish to come back inside, you will be required to pay again.
• Increased Security Presence: We will have additional officers on-site, including one at the entry gate and another on foot patrol.
• Security Cameras: With the help of Ocala Parks and Recreation, security cameras will be installed outside the facility to monitor the parking lot and warm-up areas.
• Police Patrols: The Ocala Police Department will increase their presence outside our facility, with officers on foot, on bicycles and in patrol cars.

“We have established a crisis response team to support any football players, cheerleaders or parents who may have concerns stemming from the incident. A graphic with more information is attached to this message. You can also reach us through our website at mcyfl.us or our Facebook page,” the post stated.

Pinkney, who was listed with a Dunnellon address, was booked into the Marion County Jail on Oct. 7. As of Oct. 16, no release was shown. Pinkney is being held on a no bond status, according to jail records.

Jarrell, also listed with a Dunnellon address according to online jail records, faces charges of principal to aggravated battery with a firearm and principal to assault with a firearm, according to an OPD post. Jail records indicate she was booked on Oct. 7 and bail was set at $20,000 for each charge. The records show that she was released on Oct. 14.

The Ocala Police Department investigated a shooting in city park parking lot on the evening of Oct. 5 and two people were arrested. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]