Easter homicide is second in nine days


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Posted April 5, 2021 | By Ainslie Lee, ainslie@ocalagazette.com

Marion County Sheriff’s Office vehicles shown at the scene of an Easter morning homicide. [Submitted]

Marion County Sheriff’s officials are investigating the death of a man in Southwest Ocala on early Easter morning as a murder. It’s the second suspected homicide in the area in nine days.

On Sunday, officers responded to a home on Southwest 36th Avenue Road in Marion Oaks after reports of a shooting at 7:20 a.m., according to sheriff’s reports.

Once inside the home, deputies found a man’s body. The sheriff’s office is not releasing any information about the incident.

MCSO spokesperson Sgt. Paul Bloom said the incident appears isolated and not directly related to a body discovered on March 26 at a home in Southwest Ocala’s Hidden Oaks subdivision.

Officers responded to a well-being check at a residence near Southwest 103rd Street Road and Southwest 75th Terrace where they found a small house fire. After firefighters put out the blaze, officers found the body, according to reports.

Investigators are waiting for test results to make a positive identification, reports state.

Sheriff’s officials have a person of interest in the Hidden Oaks death is in custody after being arrested on unrelated charges. They are not releasing the person’s name.

Anyone with information regarding either incident can call Marion County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 352-368-STOP.

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