A 41-year-old Ocala man was arrested after being accused of attacking a male victim and firing a single gunshot.
On Monday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal responded to a residence on SE 71st Avenue Road in Belleview in reference to a fight that had occurred outside of the home. Upon arrival, the corporal observed a man, later identified as Christopher Lee Sapp, who was being held on the ground.
The corporal detained Sapp and placed him inside an MCSO patrol car. The corporal then contacted a deputy for assistance in translating from Spanish to English, since the male victim and a female witness both spoke Spanish.
The witness stated that she had parked her vehicle in front of her home. An unknown vehicle pulled up behind her and parked in the middle of the road. She stated that Sapp exited that vehicle and began asking her if she knew who he was.
The male victim, who was traveling with the female victim, stepped outside of her vehicle to confront Sapp. According to the witness, Sapp quickly approached the victim and began to “attack” him.
According to the witness, Sapp bit the victim’s arm and punched him twice in the face. The victim was holding a pistol that he was attempting to put into his shorts, and she advised that Sapp grabbed the firearm.
A struggle then ensued between Sapp and the victim. During this struggle, Sapp allegedly managed to fire off a single shot from the victim’s pistol. The MCSO report indicated that no one was struck by the projectile.
The witness added that a neighbor heard the gunshot, arrived at the incident location, and assisted the victim in getting the pistol away from Sapp.
A young man was in the passenger seat of Sapp’s vehicle. He stated that they were initially heading to a local hospital due to a bite that was on Sapp’s ear. The man then advised that Sapp began to “swerve all over the road,” and Sapp allegedly stated that he was “Jesus.”
When Sapp noticed the vehicle belonging to the witness, the man stated that Sapp followed it to the incident location. He recalled seeing Sapp punch the victim and then he heard a gunshot.
The corporal attempted to speak with Sapp, but he refused to discuss the incident.
According to the MCSO report, Sapp’s vehicle was searched and the following items were seized: a clear pipe underneath the radio which field-tested positive for methamphetamine; a crystal-like substance near the pipe that field-tested positive for methamphetamine; six packets of suboxone; a white pill that was identified as buprenorphine hydrochloride; and an orange pill that was identified as buprenorphine hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride.
The corporal located a single spent 9mm shell casing that was stuck in the slide of the victim’s firearm. The victim and witness both stated that they had never seen Sapp prior to this incident.
Sapp was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held without bond. He is facing felony charges for assault with intent to commit a felony and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (four counts), along with misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and battery.
A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, August 2 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.