OCALA, Fla. -- Ocala Police Department reports that officers have arrested a 17-year-old who is accused of shooting and killing a man in an Ocala apartment Tuesday night.
- Teen charged in fatal Ocala shooting
- 54-year-old Ocala man shot, killed
The 17-year-old is charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a juvenile.
Officers with the Ocala PD arrived at the Parkside Garden Apartments at 621 NW 2nd St. around 11:25 p.m. after getting calls of a shooting, the law enforcement agency stated in a series of tweets.
When they arrived, officers found 54-year-old Cornelius Lewis, who was sent to a local hospital as a trauma alert. He was pronounced dead at 12:56 a.m. Wednesday, police stated.
Investigators identified the teen as suspect, but they were initially unable to make contact at his home, according to a news release.
Later, a Marion County Sheriff's Office detective said the 17-year-old arrived at the MCSO station to talk about the shooting.
The teen was transported to Ocala Police Department for questioning, where officers say he provided a statement that said he allegedly shot Lewis in self-defense. But police say witness statements and video footage don't back up the claim.
The investigating is active and ongoing. The teen is being held without bond.
We are not identifying the teen suspect in accordance to our crime guidelines.