A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of another man in a vacant lot in Ocala on December 22, 2023.
At around 8:20 p.m. on December 22, Ocala Police Department officers responded to the 1900 block of SW 1st Street in reference to shots being fired in the area.
When officers arrived at the incident location, they found a deceased male victim, identified as 34-year-old McKenzie L. Roundtree, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
According to OPD, homicide detectives worked to gather information and multiple leads that eventually led them to a single suspect: Zy’Wantre Si’Cane Lester.
OPD detectives used “multiple witnesses and other evidence” to determine that there was sufficient probable cause for the arrest of Lester for first-degree murder. On Tuesday, January 9, Lester was apprehended by law enforcement and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond.
“Great work to our detectives who worked this case, but also to those in our community who came forward,” stated the Ocala Police Department on its Facebook page. “Your tips and leads helped us serve justice and get a dangerous person off our streets, making Ocala a safer place for everyone.”
If anyone has any information about a crime that occurred in the Ocala/Marion County area, OPD encourages them to submit an anonymous tip to the Crime Stoppers of Marion County by calling 352-368-STOP(7867) or by clicking here to submit an online tip.
If you use Crime Stoppers and your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000.