The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting incident at a local nightclub that wounded a deputy and civilian early Sunday morning, and a cash reward of up to $5,000 is being offered to encourage anyone with information to come forward.
At around 2:15 a.m., MCSO deputies were conducting security in the parking lot of Time Nightclub (9355 SE Maricamp Road in Silver Springs Shores) when shots were fired.
The MCSO deputy who was shot was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery. The sheriff’s office later identified the deputy as Kenneth Warner, and he is expected to make a full recovery.
The male civilian who sustained a gunshot wound during the shooting was also taken to the hospital and is expected to fully recover. He was later identified as Ricard Brown.
MCSO Major Crimes detectives are actively investigating the shooting.
“Now, at this time, we do not know who the intended target was,” stated Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods on Sunday. “We are just now getting information [and] gathering information.”
The unknown suspect in this case is still at large. Sheriff Woods stated that the agency’s full resources are being utilized to figure out the identity of the shooter.
Sheriff Woods had the following message for the suspect: “I will find out who you are, I will hunt you down, and I will bring you to justice.”
Sheriff Woods added that there were approximately 100 people in the nightclub’s parking lot at the time of the shooting. “Someone saw something, heard something, and knows something, and I need that citizen to have the courage to come forward to give us information.”
The Florida Sheriff’s Association, in partnership with the Florida Office of the Attorney General, is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for a tip that leads to an arrest.
If you have any information about who may be responsible for this shooting, or if you were in the area and saw something suspicious, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office asks that you call 352-732-9111.
For those wishing to remain anonymous, a reward of up to $3,000 is available through the Crime Stoppers of Marion County for any tip that leads to an arrest of the individual responsible for the shooting. To qualify for this reward, call 352-368-STOP(7867).
In a press release on Monday afternoon, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Please help us get this violent criminal off our streets.”