MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A 19-year-old woman was killed and five other people were injured in a shooting at an Ocala night club early Sunday morning, deputies said.
Marion County deputies were called to the Cloud 9 Club on South Pine Avenue at about 1:30 a.m. where they found six people with gunshot wounds in the parking lot.
"They found victims on the ground there with numerous injuries, some very severe, and then immediately began medical treatment," said Lt. Ryan Robbins, of the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Benetria Robinson, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“At this time we do have one fatality, a young, black female. There are five other victims who have been shot or injured,” said Robbins.
Robinson’s aunt said she woke up a phone call at about 7 a.m. with the news her niece has been killed.
The victim’s cousin, Sheena Shealey, said her family has seen its darkest day.
“She had so many friends and family. Everybody liked this girl,” said Shealey.
Three of the other five victims, who have not been identified, were taken to hospitals in serious condition and are now stable.
Investigators said the other two victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
“I wish she could have been one of them in the hospital, getting better,” Shealey said. “Her best friend called me. She told me my little cousin was shot in front of Cloud 9 and I should come out here.”
Robinson’s family stopped by the nightclub and placed a teddy bear and flowers where she was gunned down.
“(She was) always nice to everybody. She was an athlete. She was on a local kickball team,” said Shealey. “They took somebody that was innocent. They took somebody and I want them to know that. I can’t even talk, I’m crying.”
The Ocala Police Department is assisting the Sheriff's Office with the investigation.
“We do have a major investigation going on to resolve this incident,” said Robbins. “Today we’ll be identifying witnesses, trying to get statements, collecting the physical evidence on the scene, identifying the suspects and hopefully apprehending the suspect as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information that may lead to a suspect is asked to call the Marion County Crime Stoppers at 352-368-7867 or the Sheriff's Office.