Police beat for Aug. 19, 2008

Deputies investigate home invasion, shooting

Belleview - Shortly after midnight Monday, two masked gunmen shot a 26-year-old man in the back during a home invasion and attempted robbery in the Belleview area, Marion County Sheriff's detectives say.

The victim, Brandon Weaver, was transported to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville with non-life threatening injuries. The two gunmen reportedly knocked on the front door of a home at 10901 S.E. 129th St. Weaver opened the door and ran toward the back of the house when he saw the gunmen entering, according to a Sheriff's Office report. He was shot in the back as he ran.

The gunmen demanded money from two other people who lived in the house but did not get any. One gunman fired another shot at another resident, Juan Scott, 36, as he fled out the front door. The gunmen then fled.

Detectives do not believe the home invasion was a random crime and do believe it may have been a drug-related robbery attempt.

Ocala - An 18-year-old man allegedly shot out the tire of a car while he was running with an infant boy in his arms Sunday afternoon at the Lacaya Mobile Home Park, 6800 N.W. Gainesville Road.

The man, George Wright Jr., was charged with child neglect and abuse, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, residential armed burglary and domestic battery. He remained in the county jail without bond Monday afternoon.

Wright told deputies the woman driving, Joanna Jacobs, 23, was his girlfriend and she tried to run him down as he left the residence with their son.

Ocala - A semi-trailer loaded with $20,000 worth of bottled water was stolen from Truck Lube & Oil Center, 3985 N.W. State Route 326 over the weekend.

The trailer was last seen on the property at 6 p.m. Saturday and the owner of the semi said it was not there when he returned for it around 8 p.m. Sunday.

The trailer was valued at $15,000.