Local

Man fatally shot at apartment complex near Ocala

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A 52-year-old man was found fatally shot early Wednesday in the courtyard of an apartment complex near Ocala, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said.

The shooting was reported shortly after 1:30 a.m. at the Northgate Apartments near Northwest Gainesville Road and Northwest 46th Lane, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lauren Lettelier said.

"Horrifying for it to be right next door. You could hear the gunshots. It sounded like it was in my house," resident Nicole Sweet said.

Edward Lee Bartley died in the shooting, which remains under investigation, Lettelier said.

"I was telling him to stop moving and he kept turning over, saying he couldn't breathe and he wanted some water," Sweet said.

No other details were given.

This marks Marion County first homicide of 2018, deputies said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Marion County Detective Aaron Levy at 352-368-3546 or Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-7867 (reference no. 17-148).