ORLANDO, Fla. — A man fatally shot his neighbor Wednesday morning after the neighbor’s cat wandered onto his property in the Ocala National Forest, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators said they were called shortly before 10:30 a.m. to Southeast 258th Avenue Road in response to a shooting.
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Detectives said Cliffton Anthony Bliss Jr., 58, became angry when a cat belonging to his neighbor, James Arland Taylor Jr., 41, walked onto his property.
They said Bliss grabbed a shotgun and threatened to shoot the cat.
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Taylor asked Bliss to not shoot his cat and Bliss then shot Taylor in the chest, killing him, investigators said.
Two witnesses who happened to be driving past Taylor stopped their vehicle, rolled down their window and asked Taylor if he was OK.
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“No, I’m dying,” he said.
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The witness described Bliss as a “troublemaker” who often confronted neighbors about their pets.
Bliss was booked into the Marion County Jail on charges of second-degree murder. He is being held without bail.
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