The Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) continues searching for Gerald Renard Coleman, 22, in connection with a shooting that occurred in Williston last week, but detectives say they have now pieced together the circumstances that led to the shooting.
Levy County reports that Coleman and Kadaryl Leon Cannady, 22, and John Colton Barley, 23, agreed to an illegal drug deal on social media and picked a vacant lot in Lincoln Heights for the exchange.
Once the three men arrived, Coleman and Cannady attempted to rob Barley. The men struggled over a firearm and a shot was fired inside of Barley’s car, according to the LSCO.
Coleman and Cannady fled the scene with Barley firing after them, wounding Cannady in the arm.
LCSO deputies, detectives and crime scene personnel arrived after reports of the shooting. They found Barley armed beside two vehicles in the vacant lot. After detaining him, officers created a perimeter and began searching for Coleman and Cannady.
Deputies found Cannady hiding in an outbuilding about a quarter mile south of the vacant lot.
Cannady received medical treatment before being taken to the Levy County Detention Center for armed robbery with a $250,000 bond.
On Friday authorities arrested Barley for aggravated battery, aggravated assault and firing a weapon in public. He is being held without bond as of Friday.
Investigators recovered firearms, ammunition, spent casings, blood and illegal drugs from the scene—evidence they say indicates that a significant number of rounds were fired during the incident.
Deputies are still searching for the third suspect, Coleman. He is considered armed and dangerous and anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call 911 or the LSCO at 352-486-5111.