Suspect in custody after shots fired on I-75; traffic lanes now open

Cindy Swirko, The Gainesville Sun
·2 min read
Image from state traffic camera on I-75 at the 407 mile marker, showing southbound traffic stalled Thursday at 1 p.m.
Image from state traffic camera on I-75 at the 407 mile marker, showing southbound traffic stalled Thursday at 1 p.m.

A man who brought Interstate 75 traffic to a halt north of Alachua Thursday afternoon after he ditched his car during a traffic stop and fired shots at deputies was caught after an hours-long manhunt.

Marandoe Acell Lamar Young, 21, will be charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement, possession of cannabis with Intent to distribute and three counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.

Alachua County Sheriff's Office Capt. Kaley Behl reported about 4:15 p.m. that Young had been apprehended. Behl later said he was found by an ASO K-9 near the spot where he stopped.

"We have to get medical treatment and they are still doing a secondary search for anything he may have dropped evidence wise," Behl said just after 5 p.m. "It's still ongoing."

Traffic, however, was permitted to resume. The deputies were not injured.

All travel on Interstate 75, northbound and southbound lanes, north of Gainesville in Alachua County was stopped at the 406 mile marker following the shooting incident, according to an email from the Florida Highway Patrol.

Motorist were advised to seek other routes, according to Lt Patrick Riordan. The Highway Patrol reported at 5 p.m. that all traffic lanes were now open.

The 406 mile marker is north of the city of Alachua, near River Rise State Park.

The man pursued by law enforcement on I-75 reportedly ditched his car at the Alachua County line, fired shots and was hunted by multiple agencies.

What we know: I-75 north of Gainesville got shut down today for a shooting.

“He got out on foot and ran,” Behl said just before 1 p.m. “They have the helicopter up and dogs. They are setting up a perimeter.”

Behl added that the incident began when the Columbia County Sheriff's Office tried to pull the man over for speeding.

Riordan said traffic was diverted from I-75 at the Alachua interchange northbound and at the U.S. 41 interchange in Columbia County southbound.

Traffic was being diverted on I-75 northbound on Thursday after there was gunfire and a manhunt involving Florida Highway Patrol troopers.
Traffic was being diverted on I-75 northbound on Thursday after there was gunfire and a manhunt involving Florida Highway Patrol troopers.

Behl said the case started in Columbia County. She wasn’t sure which agency started pursuing the man, but he stopped along the southbound lanes and ran. Calls to 911 reported the man was shooting at law enforcement.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: I-75 shooting: Interstate traffic stopped north of Gainesville