Florida Highway Patrol troopers had to temporarily close down all three southbound lanes of I-75 on Sunday night due to a multi-vehicle crash and a shooting involving a trooper in Ocala.
At around 8 p.m. on Sunday, the FHP troopers verified that the southbound lanes were obstructed, commencing from exit 374 in Micanopy.
On Sunday evening, the southbound lanes of I-75 were closed off with police tape, located approximately two miles south of exit 374, as revealed by the Florida Department of Transportation cameras.
Beyond mile marker 371, the left shoulder of the northbound lane of I-75 experienced a temporary blockage.
According to Zach Moore, the Public Information Officer for Marion County, the Florida Highway Patrol were in pursuit of a dangerous driver who had already hit multiple vehicles. Eventually, the driver was stopped on the side of the interstate, and an exchange of gunshots occurred during the law enforcement intervention.
According to TV20, the suspect was shot by the FHP trooper involved, as confirmed by FHP troopers.
According to TV20, officials from Marion County Fire Rescue have taken a person to the hospital, but there is currently no information available on the individual’s condition.
According to FHP troopers who spoke to TV20, the responsibility of investigating the incident falls on FDLE since it involved an FHP trooper who was involved in the shooting.
As of Sunday evening, Gretl Plessinger, the spokesperson for FDLE, stated that she had not yet been briefed on the situation. She assured TV20 that any new information received by her agency will be promptly updated. At this time, no updates on the FDLE investigation have been reported to TV20.
Drivers are advised to steer clear of the area as heavy traffic is expected.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is currently investigating the February 2023 shooting incident involving the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), where a man was fatally shot by a trooper at Busy Bee in Live Oak. Despite multiple public record requests made by TV20, no information has been released yet regarding the events that led to the tragic incident, even after a year and a half has passed.
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