A man who was fatally shot by a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy after allegedly wielding a firearm during a domestic dispute on Tuesday has been identified, with state records showing he spent two decades in prison prior to his release last year.
In an update, MCSO stated that 39-year-old James Cherry, who was released from prison sometime last year after serving a 20-year sentence, had arrived at a home located in the 14900 block of SW 35th Avenue Road in Ocala on Tuesday, July 7. He was there to confront his estranged wife, whom he had married following his release, and allegedly attempted to convince her to let him inside the residence.
When the estranged wife refused to let Cherry into the home, a witness who was on the phone with her overheard a disturbance and called 911 out of concern for the wife’s safety.
That afternoon, at around 2:25 p.m., an MCSO deputy responded to the home and made contact with Cherry to investigate the disturbance.
During that encounter, Cherry allegedly wielded a firearm and failed to comply with the deputy’s command to drop the weapon.
When Cherry reportedly turned toward the deputy while still armed, the deputy discharged a firearm.
Following the shooting, the deputy secured Cherry and immediately began rendering medical aid until paramedics arrived at the scene. Cherry was then transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died from his injuries.
MCSO detectives responded to the incident location on Tuesday afternoon, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was notified. FDLE is currently conducting an independent investigation into the shooting, which is standard protocol.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave while the FDLE investigation is underway.