Man accused of pulling gun on Marion deputy dies after being shot near youth football practice

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The armed man shot by a Marion County sheriff’s deputy on Tuesday night died at the hospital, department officials said on Wednesday.

The man, identified as 26-year-old Rasheem Edwards, was shot after he fled a traffic stop on a dirt bike, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media, saying deputies and detectives were on the scene near Maricamp Road and Emerald Road near Silver Springs Shores following the shooting.

The sheriff’s office said that around 7:15 p.m., a deputy performed a traffic stop, but the driver of the dirt bike ran toward a field where a youth football practice was being held.

“As he was running toward where that practice was, the suspect was armed,” a sheriff’s spokesman said. “Open carry‌ing a firearm. (He) tries to pull the firearm out and turns on the deputy and when he did, the deputy shot him.”

[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]

The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, but “succumbed to his injuries” on Wednesday, sheriff’s officials said in an update.

The deputy was not injured.

According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy was placed on paid administrative leave — a standard practice in deputy-involved shootings — and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been contacted to investigate the shooting.

No additional information has been released at this time, including the name of the gunman or any charges he might face.

A parent who was at the football practice spoke with News 6 on the condition of anonymity, telling us the experience was traumatic.

“It just was very quick, like, ‘Pop, pop, pop,’ and then the coaches and everybody was looking around at first and was like, ‘Get on the ground, get on the ground,’” the parent said. ”I was thinking that was gun shots and, “Oh my God, where’s my kid?’ That’s my first thing, where’s my children?”

This is a developing story. Check back with News 6 for the latest.

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: