A Wildwood man is being held without bond in the shooting death of a 16-year-old.
Sumter County sheriff’s deputies at 6:18 p.m. Monday responded to Royal Park regarding a shooting near the basketball court.
Deputies discovered Chris’sean Williams had been shot while at the park. Williams was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
According to witnesses on scene, Williams was approached from behind by 22-year-old Bacarri Justice Austell who brandished a handgun and fired several rounds at Williams, who was trying to run from the scene. Austell had been in pursuit. He then fled the park.
Deputies converged on the area where they were able to make contact with Austell. Austell was transported to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office for an interview. During the interview, Austell made statements which tied him to the homicide. Austell was charged with first degree homicide.
Detectives are still conducting interviews of potential witnesses and investigating a motive for the shooting.
If you have any information that would assist in this homicide investigation, contact Detective J. Knight at (352) 569-1644, or call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.
