Marion County residents worried after more cars shot at on stretch of road

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — More drivers in Marion County said they’ve been having to pull bullets out of their car doors.

At least two vehicles were shot up on the same stretch of road, and residents said it’s happened at least a half dozen times, but no arrests have been made.

The drivers who have been shot at said they’re worried the gunfire isn’t going to stop until someone gets hurt or killed.

Deputies said at least six cars have been shot up in the last six months, and they’re focusing on what’s become a dangerous stretch of road.

Photos: Shooter targeting Ocala drivers

Dale Clifford has already fixed the bullet hole that came through the door of his truck and blasted a hole in his center console.

“It literally knocked my leg off the accelerator. It was so much force and impact,” he said.%

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It happened as he was driving on Maricamp Road near Emerald Road in April.

Clifford went to his car dealership thinking he’s been the victim of car trouble, not a random shooting.

“She said, ‘You’ve got bigger problems than that.’ When I came out and saw it, it was a .45 caliber bullet hole in my door,” he said.

Last Friday, Jeremy Haskell showed Channel 9 the bullet holes in his headlight.

Ocala police and Marion County deputies said they’ve taken four reports of incidents like Haskell’s and Clifford’s.%

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Since then, two additional drivers have contacted Channel 9 to say they’ve also been targets.

Deputies said they’re keeping a closer watch on patrols.

Ocala police have not said that they are adding any patrols, but said officers are always on high alert.

With so many close calls already, victims want to see an arrest before bullets fly again.

“I hope they find whoever is doing this before somebody really gets hurt,” said Clifford.

While residents are connecting all the incidents, that doesn’t mean police and deputies are.

Both departments said these types of shooting cases tend to be isolated, but drivers said they don’t understand how that could be the case.

Cox Media Group