OCALA, Fla. — Ocala police have arrested a 19-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a store employee Tuesday evening at Kings Food Mart.
Officers responded to the store at 149 SW Martin Luther King Avenue around 5:31 p.m. Aug. 11 after receiving reports of a shooting.
Inside, officers found 45-year-old Ean Stein of Ocala suffering from gunshot wounds.
Stein was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to the Ocala Police Department, detectives determined that Stein and another person had been involved in a brief physical fight inside the store shortly before the shooting.
Police said the suspect, identified as 19-year-old Curnel Brown, was at the store at the time but was not involved in the fight.
Investigators reviewed evidence, including surveillance video, and identified Brown as the person who shot Stein, police said.
Brown was located at another location within minutes and taken into custody without incident.
Investigators said they also recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting.
After reviewing the evidence, detectives determined that the use of deadly force was not justified, according to police.
Brown was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder and transported to the Marion County Jail.
The Ocala Police Department expressed condolences to Stein’s family and loved ones and thanked the officers and detectives involved in the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Marion County by calling 352-368-STOP (7867), dialing **TIPS, or submitting a tip online through Ocala Crime Stoppers.
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