GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A man was shot and killed Friday by someone he knew "very well" at a Gainesville apartment complex, a few miles west of the University of Florida campus, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sgt. Chris Sims said deputies received a call around 2 a.m. about shots fired at the Reflections Apartments on 75th Street between West Newberry Road and Southwest 8th Avenue.
Deputies said they found Roderick Ray McCoy, 24, in a unit on the third floor with injuries from a gunshot. He was taken to UF Health Shands, where he died.
"Our deputies are equipped with trauma packs, trauma life-saving kits that they utilized to try and save this young man's life," Sims said.
Deputies later said that they took the man they believe is the shooter in for questioning but he was released. He lives at the complex and new McCoy, deputies said, pointing out that it was not a random act of violence. They have not released the man's name or said if an arrest will be made.
"There are multiple witnesses here at the location, and so detectives have transported those witnesses back to our station, where they will question them and continue to gather evidence through our crime scene technicians," Sims said.
Deputies said residents will notice heavy police activity at the apartment complex during the investigation.
“We understand our community has a lot of questions. We have a lot of questions as well. As we get additional information, we'll be sure to update our community," Sims said.
McCoy had been arrested previously on drug, trespassing, theft and armed robbery charges.
Alachua County deputies said this was the fourth homicide they have investigated this year, compared to only one in 2016.
