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Ocala, FL - An Ocala man was killed in a shooting Wednesday afternoon that authorities say appeared to be a random act of violence in a quiet residential neighborhood.
The incident happened shortly after 3:30 p.m. when police received reports of a suspicious person and then a second call reporting that someone had been shot in a front yard.
When officers arrived, they found 64-year-old Harold Whitt Harper lying in his yard with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members told investigators Harper had been gardening as part of his recovery from recent neck surgery and was not carrying anything other than a bucket used for yard work.
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A short time later, officers located 29-year-old Isaac Ezekiel Toye several blocks away.
According to the arrest report, Toye was allegedly in possession of a loaded 9 mm handgun and additional ammunition.
Police said a shell casing recovered near the victim’s body was later matched to the firearm found on Toye.
Investigators stated there is no evidence the victim and the suspect knew each other, and no clear motive has been identified.
The shooting is being treated as a random attack.
Toye was taken into custody and booked into jail on homicide-related charges.
The case remains under investigation as detectives continue to review evidence and interview witnesses.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Ocala police.