Man shot dead at home

OCALA - A day after an Ocala man was shot and killed at his front door, Marion County sheriff's investigators canvassed the Ocala Ridge neighborhood looking for answers.

Monday evening, the biggest question remained: Who are the two men who allegedly came to Marvin Travis Wilkerson's door Sunday?

Deputies arrived at 951 N.W. 59th Ave. at about 6:15 p.m. Sunday to find Wilkerson, 44, unconscious and not breathing. He was taken by ambulance to Munroe Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Wilkerson's wife, Deborah, told investigators that two men knocked on the door at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday, and Wilkerson opened the door. According to the Sheriff's Office report, one of the men asked Wilkerson for dog food. Deborah Wilkerson said she heard two gunshots.

Crime scene investigator Lt. Bill Sowder said Wilkerson reportedly saw that at least one of the men had a gun and turned away. He was shot in the back. Deborah Wilkerson left through a window in the back of the house, Sowder said. Monday, investigators went door-to-door asking residents if they had seen either of the suspects.

According to a Sheriff's Office news release, one was a black male, possibly with dreadlocks, wearing a white T-shirt, and the other was a black male wearing a black shirt and carrying a long gun. They may have left in a white four-door vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Lumina, the release states.

Sheriff's Maj. Chris Blair said detectives were investigating Wilkerson's activities over the last few days. Sheriff's obtained a search warrant to look through the home Monday afternoon.

Blair would not elaborate. Wilkerson was arrested eight years ago on dog fighting and marijuana charges, but sheriff's spokesman Capt. Jimmy Pogue said there was no evidence that suggested the shooting was related to those activities.

On Monday morning, a lone deputy guarded the home with his patrol car. Dogs barked and a rooster crowed from behind the home's privacy fence.

Wilkerson's neighbors talked in near disbelief about what had happened. Nearby resident Tony Jones called his neighborhood a quiet one.

"There ain't too much stuff that happens around here," he said.

Neither did Cleo Persley, who lived behind Wilkerson.

"I was laying in bed and got a phone call that one of our neighbors had been shot," Persley said. "I thought to myself, 'No, not Marvin.' He was a fine fellow."

Persley said Wilkerson was a respectful neighbor, a man who had lent a helping hand many times.

"Our water pump went out, and he ran water to our house with a hose for a week," Persley said. "He wouldn't let us even pay him back."

The Sheriff's Office is urging anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP.

Joe VanHoose may be reached at joe.vanhoose@starbanner.com or 867-4124.