A 22-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the shooting death of a Marion County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy.
According to a press release from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday, August 19, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the communication center received a call in reference to a potential suicide that had occurred at a residence in Pine Ridge.
An off-duty MCSO detention deputy, identified as 31-year-old Cory Schweitzer, was not breathing and had an apparent gunshot wound. When first responders arrived at the residence, Schweitzer was pronounced deceased.
CCSO Major Crimes detectives responded to the residence to investigate the fatal shooting, and they began gathering preliminary information at the scene. As additional evidence was uncovered, collected, and analyzed, it became “very clear” to detectives that Schweitzer had been murdered, according to CCSO.
After additional investigative work by the detectives and a thorough evaluation of the forensic evidence that was gathered at the scene, a warrant was secured for the arrest of Jacqueline Jasmin Johnson-Cabrera, a former girlfriend of the victim.
Johnson-Cabrera was arrested and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto where she is being held without bond. According to CCSO, second degree murder charges are currently pending.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods stated, “On Friday, August 19, 2022, with a broken heart, I had to inform my employees about the loss of their brother, Detention Deputy Cory Schweitzer.”
Schweitzer’s career with MCSO began in March of 2019, and he joined the Detention Response Team in 2020. In June of 2021, he was named the Employee of the Month.
“He left his mark on the hearts of everyone he worked with, and I ask that all of you continue to keep Cory’s family, friends, and his brothers and sisters he worked alongside of in your hearts and prayers,” said Sheriff Woods.
Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast offered his condolences. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Schweitzer’s family, along with Sheriff Woods and the men and women of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, who knew and worked alongside Cory.”
Sheriff Prendergast added, “Investigating homicide cases are difficult enough, let alone when the victim is a fellow law enforcement officer. This case presented many unique factors, and with the arrest of Johnson-Cabrera, I hope and pray the family and colleagues can now begin the healing process.”