OPD holds press conference

[Photo courtesy Ocala Police Department]

A 23-year-old Marion County man, whose mother told law enforcement he is schizophrenic and had made remarks about committing suicide by cop, was shot by police Sunday after he reportedly sprayed officers with pepper spray and charged at an armed officer with a knife.

David Laperriere remained hospitalized following surgery and was listed in serious condition hours after the incident. He stands charged with two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and one count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

Ocala Police Department Deputy Chief Lou Biondi, flanked by Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano, gave a timeline on the incident at a Monday press conference:

Around 12:20 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, 2024, OPD received a 911 call “from a mom” who had taken her son to The Vines Hospital at 3130 SW 27th Avenue for a “mental health intervention” but after a time he decided he “didn’t want to stay” and left on foot. The mother gave a thorough description of her son’s clothing and likely direction of travel, the official stated.

At approximately 12:38 p.m. two officers (Sgt. Sean Young and Officer Luis Camacho) contacted the man in the 5500 block of Southwest 27th Avenue (County Road 475A) and “entered into a dialogue” with him, according to information from Biondi’s press conference and an arrest affidavit.

About 20 seconds later, the man “showed his hands” and in his right hand had what appeared to be a “fixed blade knife” and in the left had bear spray, described as a higher concentration pepper spray for animals, Biondi indicated.

Camacho had a Taser, Officer Collazo, who also responded, had a non-lethal “40 mm multi launcher” which uses foam projectiles and Young had his firearm as the three tried to get Laperriere to comply and drop the knife so they might speak, according to an arrest affidavit.

Over roughly the following five seconds, the officers negotiated with the man as he made several statements that he wanted to end his life and the officers did “everything they can to deter him” and at one point he can be seen waving the spray and knife and was apparently “not listening” to the officers, according to statements during the press conference, which was posted on Facebook.

The arrest affidavit stated Laperriere said, “Today is the day I die.”

Laperriere began spraying bear spray at the officers, which can travel up to 40 feet, according to the affidavit, and Camacho deployed his Taser and Collazo deployed the launcher.

Laperriere walked toward the offices spraying the bear spray with the knife in his right hand and then ran directly toward Young, spraying the bear spray with his left hand, the arrest affidavit states.

The arrest affidavit states, “due to the active deadly threat” Young “fired multiple rounds from his agency issued firearm, striking the defendant.”

The officers “immediately rendered aid” until medics arrived, the arrest affidavit states.

The arrest affidavit indicates Laperriere was charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer for spraying Camacho and Collazo with bear spray and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer for running toward Young while spraying bear spray.

Laperriere remained in a local hospital in serious condition Monday afternoon and is being held on a no bond basis.