Crime & Public Safety
Ocala man arrested after reported backyard shooting, motorcycle pursuit and shed search
Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported shooting on a gated property in Ocala after a resident said a masked man fired multiple rounds into a yard, striking a vehicle, on Saturday, September 19. Deputies recovered spent .45-caliber shell casings and home surveillance footage that allegedly captured the suspect discharging a handgun.
According to the arrest report, witnesses at the property saw a man in a black leather biker vest, blue jeans and a mask approach from the south and then fire. An MCSO lieutenant later spotted a man matching the description sitting on a black motorcycle; the man reportedly sped away when deputies attempted a traffic stop. Deputies began a pursuit but terminated it after reporting erratic maneuvers. The motorcycle was later found abandoned and a passerby reported seeing a man run through nearby backyards.
Deputies located and detained Ocala resident Byron Ray Coates less than a quarter-mile from the motorcycle. Investigators allege dashcam footage showed the fleeing motorcyclist wearing clothing and jewelry similar to that worn by Coates. A neighbor directed deputies to a backyard shed where deputies say they recovered a .45-caliber handgun with a red dot sight hidden under a couch, along with clothing matching the suspect’s attire.
Coates was arrested, booked into the Marion County Jail and remains in custody with bond set at $150,000. He faces multiple felony counts listed in the arrest report, including armed burglary of a structure, shooting into a vehicle or dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, use of a firearm during a felony, fleeing and eluding, and tampering with evidence. A Marion County court appearance is scheduled for October 20, per jail records.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.