[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 03/02/20]
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LEESBURG, Florida — A good Samaritan held a man accused of battering a convenience store customer at gunpoint Sunday morning, until Leesburg Police arrived, according to an arrest affidavit.
Leesburg Police responded to Wawa, 1396 West North Boulevard, Leesburg in reference to an in-progress battery, possibly involving a firearm, just before 8 a.m. Sunday. When police arrived, they a found a man pointing a gun at another man who was sitting on the floor inside the store. As an officer entered the store, the man lowered the weapon and put it into concealed holster in his waistband. The officer ordered the man to place his hands above his head and the officer removed the gun and secured it, the affidavit states.
The officer was advised the man holding the gun had utilized it to stop a battery being committed by a man who was sitting on the floor, identified as Omilson Oceant Shirley, 23, of Leesburg. The victim was also on the floor, surrounded by several customers and had a large amount of blood coming from his head, with blood on the floor, the affidavit states. Lake EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital. Shirley was placed into the back of a patrol car.
A second victim — a woman who tried to stop the beating — told police she saw Shirley strike the victim repeatedly until he fell to the ground. Shirley kicked the victim in the head and the woman yelled for him to stop. The woman began assisting the victim and Shirley pushed her to the ground and began attacking the first victim again. As she began to stand, she saw the good Samaritan pull out his gun and he ordered Shirley to stop. Shirley continued to strike the victim several more times before he finally stopped, the affidavit states.
Police checked out the good Samaritan and found he had no wants or warrants and has a valid conceal carry permit. The firearm was released back to him after police confirmed it was not stolen.
Shirley was taken to Leesburg Police Department for processing and shouted obscenities at officers and pushed one officer against the wall. Shirley did not say why he battered the original victim; he only asked how long the officer would take to complete his paperwork and how much his bond would, the affidavit states.
Shirley, who was previously trespassed from Wawa, was charged with trespassing, aggravated battery causing bodily harm, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and battery. His bond on those charges is $12,000, but he is being held on no bond on a violation of probation.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
