By Austin L. Miller
Ocala Star-Banner
OCALA, Fla. — A nurse was shot in the leg during a struggle between Florida Highway Patrol troopers and a man the troopers had accompanied to a hospital on Saturday.
Several people interviewed by the Star-Banner described the scene as chaotic, frightening and scary as law enforcement officers called to the scene rushed into the hospital.
One woman, Kelly Parker, said that when she went into the hospital, employees told her to turn around and leave. She said that as she was making her way outside, scores of police officers were running into the building.
In a news conference held at West Marion Community Hospital at 4600 SW 46th Court in Ocala, Lt. Patrick Riordan, an FHP spokesman, said the nurse was listed in stable condition. Riordan said the shooter, whose name was not released, was taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail, where charges are pending. The names of the troopers involved in the incident were also not released. The nurse’s name was not released. Hospital officials could not be reached for comment.
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Riordan said the unnamed man was a pedestrian on Interstate 75 near Mile Marker 341 and he requested assistance three times. The spokesman did not elaborate why the individual was on the highway and his reason for wanting help.
After the third time, Riordan said the man was taken to West Marion Community Hospital for treatment. The man was treated and while at the hospital failed to obey a trooper’s order. A struggle between the man and a trooper ensued and the nurse was shot by a trooper’s gun. It is not known if the trooper’s gun was in the holster or not.
Riordan said three FHP troopers were involved and they received minor injuries during the struggle.
The shooting is being investigated by the FHP and they are expected to conduct an internal affairs investigation into the matter. Some of the issues FHP investigators will be examining is whether or not policies or procedures were followed.
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©2017 the Ocala Star-Banner (Ocala, Fla.)