Victims pistol-whipped before shooting at home invaders in Ocala

OCALA, Fla. — Marion County deputies said they are searching for three of four men who broke into a home and terrorized a members of a family who were sleeping.

The incident happened Monday morning at a home on Southeast 92nd Street near US 27 in Ocala.

Deputies said one of the victims managed to disarm one of the home invaders and fired at them.

One man, Tobais Herring, was arrested.

"It was very early in the morning and the victims awoke to being beaten with pistols," said Lauren Lettelier of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said the men were packing heat and they pistol-whipped the victims.

"One of the weapons from one of the suspects and started firing at them," said Lettelier.

According to the report, the resident shot one of the home invaders before the men escaped.

A neighbor who did not want to be identified said having law enforcement investigate near their home was frightening.

"They were looking and taking pictures all the way down the road and following a trail of blood or whatever,” the neighbor said. "It’s very scary, especially with the children in the house that it happened and in the neighborhood."

Investigators said the victims were able to ID one of the men and soon after they were called to the scene, deputies tracked down Herring and arrested him.

Deputies believe the men targeted the home.

"(The men) were asking for equipment that the victim assumed was DJ equipment," said Lettelier.

Deputies said the DJ equipment belonged to the homeowner’s son, and they believe the men wanted to steal it so they could go and sell it on the streets.

"The neighborhood is just on very high alert," said the neighbor.

Deputies said the men tried to steal get away with loose change, a crossbow and a TV, but they dropped the items, which deputies found near the home.

Herring remains in the Marion County Jail on $50,000 bail.

Cox Media Group