Multiple Marion County deputies were called to the scene of a shooting Sunday morning in Summerfield.
Blake Bernard Ellenberger, 25, of Belleview, was taken into custody after a 32-year-old man was shot three times inside a car in the area of the 10700 block of SE 166th Lane.
The victim was transported to an area hospital where he underwent surgery.
The incident started about 5 a.m. Sunday when the man who was shot met up with Blake Bernard Ellenberger, 25, and a friend at another friend’s house in Belleview. The friend drove the victim and Ellenberger to the victim’s home in the 10700 block of SE 166th Lane in Summerfield, where they allegedly smoked marijuana and methamphetamine, a Marion County Sheriff’s report states.
After several hours, the friend and the victim attempted to take Ellenberger back to his house. The friend was driving a white Mercury Grand Marquis, with the victim sitting in the front passenger seat and Ellenberger in the right rear seat.
Prior to getting into the vehicle, Ellenberger had become “extremely paranoid” and said he wasn’t going to get in the front seat of the car, the report says.
Once inside the vehicle, Ellenberger allegedly drew a .38-caliber revolver from his paints, pointed it at the victim and fired multiple shots, hitting the man three times, the report says.
Ellenberger fled on foot toward County Road 42, where he stopped and reloaded the pistol before surrendering to deputies arriving at the location. After being taken into custody, he “made spontaneous statements” that he shot the victim in self-defense.
Ellenberger also said he believed the man “was planning on killing him,” so he drew his revolver and shot him, the report says, adding that he talked about watching as the bullets struck the man.
Both spent shell casings and unspent rounds were recovered from Ellenberger’s pants’ pockets. The report also notes that deputies couldn’t find any evidence to support his claim that the victim was seeking to harm him.
Ellenberger was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm. He was being held on $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in a Marion County courtroom Aug. 7 at 9 a.m.