On Sunday, a 23-year-old man was shot by the Ocala Police Department while being transported to a mental health clinic. The incident happened at around 12:20 p.m. when family members called the police after the man fled from The Vines Hospital in Ocala before being admitted for treatment. Law enforcement quickly located the man near the 5500 block of SW 27th Avenue just before 12:40 p.m.
According to the incident report, the man was behaving erratically and posed an immediate threat, prompting a police officer to shoot him in order to protect themselves and others. The 23-year-old was then rushed to HCA Hospital with a gunshot wound. Unfortunately, no officers were injured during the incident, but the man is currently in critical condition.
As standard procedure in cases involving police shootings, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an investigation into the incident. It remains to be seen what further details will emerge from this tragic event.
