Ocala man jailed after threatening to shoot up busy Ocala courthouse
A suspect was booked on $5,000 bond after deputies said he vowed to use a gun while judges and civilians were inside.
By Alina Carter ·
Visitors and legal staff inside the Lake County Courthouse in Ocala, Florida, faced a potential gunman on Thursday, Nov. 5. A man was taken into custody after deputies said he threatened to discharge a firearm while the building remained open to the public. The incident forced law enforcement to secure the area where judges, clerks, and civilians were present.
The suspect had spent the morning in court for a traffic citation hearing. He became disruptive during that session and was escorted out. Shortly after, he returned around 1:10 p.m. Deputies noted he was verbally aggressive toward officers before walking toward a courtroom. He was on a phone call when he made the specific threats that led to his arrest.
A sheriff’s deputy working security received a report at 1:15 p.m. from a person who spotted the man. The man wore a black shirt with red or orange writing across the chest. Two witnesses provided written statements detailing what they heard. They reported the suspect said, “These guys think that they can intimidate me with their badges and guns. They need to stop trying me, I got a gun and badge, I will shoot this place up.”
Deputies moved quickly to contain the situation. The man was arrested at 1:40 p.m. He faces a charge of threatening death or bodily harm to a clerk or court personnel. Investigators confirmed the courthouse was fully operational at the time of the threat, with multiple categories of staff and members of the public inside the building.
The suspect was transported to the Lake County jail. He is currently being held on a bond of $5,000. The case is now moving through the standard court process for review and adjudication.
