Teens no longer charged with murder in Ocala grocery store parking lot shooting
Prosecutors have dropped second-degree murder charges against two teenage boys accused of being involved in the shooting death of a young man earlier this year. Instead, the teens will be charged with a form of burglary of a conveyance while a third, older co-defendant is charged with second-degree murder.
One boy is 15, the other 14. The juveniles' names are not being released by the Star-Banner due to their ages.
According to court filings submitted by prosecutors, the charge for the younger boy was amended last month to burglary of a conveyance while armed while wearing a mask.
The boy has been released from jail after posting a $50,000 bond. He has a hearing scheduled for January. His lawyer is local defense attorney Melanie Slaughter.
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The older boy faces a charge of burglary of a conveyance. His lawyer is Darryl Smith of Orlando. Similar He also is out on bond and awaits a January court date.
Here is what happened with the shooting
In late March, 23-year-old Jacorie McCullough was shot in the parking lot of the 7 Days Food Store, 2002 NW First Ave., Ocala. He later died at a local hospital.
Ocala police said the 14-year-old boy approached a sport utility vehicle that was in the parking lot. The boy opened a back passenger door and removed a backpack.
McCullough, who was in the vehicle, exited and the two scuffled, police officials said. McCullough took the backpack from the teen.
Three males then come to the area. McCullough and Leandre Rashad Cox, 19, were involved in a confrontation and had to be separated.
Cox was armed with a handgun and pointed it at McCullough. Surveillance video shows McCullough falling to the ground. A male whose face was covered took the backpack from the SUV. The masked male, Cox, and another male are seen running away.
Detectives were able to identify everyone involved in the incident and arrest them. Police officials believe the motive may have been robbery.
Cox is represented by lawyer A. Antonio Tomas of Miami. Cox has been charged with second-degree murder with a firearm and remains locked up at the Marion County Jail, where he is held without bail.
Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala prosecutors reduce charges for two teens after fatal shooting
