A 17-year-old girl was fatally shot in Marion County over the weekend, and local detectives are asking for the public’s help to locate a person of interest in the homicide case.
In a social media post on Wednesday afternoon, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods asked for help locating 21-year-old Saul Garcia Macias.
On Sunday, December 10, shortly before 1 a.m., Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a suspicious death at a residence on NW 111th Court in Ocala. When deputies arrived, they located 17-year-old Sofia Lugo, and she had sustained a gunshot wound, according to MCSO.
Lugo was pronounced deceased at the scene.
MCSO Major Crimes detectives responded to the residence and launched a homicide investigation.
According to Sheriff Woods, detectives have learned that Macias was at the residence on NW 111th Court shortly before Lugo’s body was found. However, when law enforcement arrived on scene, Macias was “nowhere to be found.”
“[Macias] has not been seen in the days since, and we need to talk with him,” stated Sheriff Woods.”
The sheriff added that detectives have reason to believe that Macias is an illegal immigrant and may be heading to the Southern border.
“Saul, instead of having my citizens look for you, why don’t you give my detectives a call so you can sit down with them and have a chat about what happened to Sofia. If you make us find you, it’s just going to make you look even guiltier of something than you already do,” stated Sheriff Woods.
Anyone with information that can be used to locate Macias is encouraged to contact Detective Ryan Stith at 352-368-3542 or the MCSO non-emergency number of 352-732-9111.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP(7867) and reference 23-67 in your tip.