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Thursday, March 28, 2024

25-year-old Ocala man arrested in connection with double homicide

Jason Thomas Cole

An Ocala man is behind bars in connection with a recent double homicide.

Major Crimes detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested 25-year-old Jason Thomas Cole on Wednesday in connection with the recent shooting deaths of 22-year-old Michael Thomas White and 23-year-old Lezhan Zackery Studivant in Belleview.

On the morning of Oct. 31, sheriff’s deputies and detectives were called to an area hospital after receiving reports that two victims had been shot and transported to the facility by an eyewitness. Upon arrival, detectives were told that both of the victims had died.

Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that White and Studivant had been traveling in a vehicle with Cole when an argument started. Detectives believe Cole hit Studivant with a gun and then shot him multiple times before turning the gun on White and shooting him as well.

On Wednesday, Cole contacted a detective with the Ocala Police Department and told him that he had killed two people. He was then taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was charged with two counts of homicide. He is being held on no bond and his next court date hasn’t yet been set.