Lake City man involved in Easter celebration shooting arrested

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Law enforcement arrested a Lake City man Thursday on charges related to Sunday’s Easter celebration shooting that injured a Lake City police officer at the Annie Mattox Recreation Center.

According to a Lake City Police Department (LCPD) release sent Friday morning, law enforcement arrested Justin Le’on Claridy, 25, who had just been released from prison last week, on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On Thursday, LCPD released a photo and video footage of the Claridy, who was seen firing a gun and fleeing the scene.

The shooting occurred Sunday evening at NE Center Avenue in Lake City at the annual Easter celebration. LCPD officers and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were providing crowd control for the more than 2,000 attendees when an altercation broke out between several attendees at 8:06 p.m. Officers and deputies intervened, gunshots were fired and an LCPD officer was shot.

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Justin Le'on Claridy
Courtesy of LCPD Justin Le’on Claridy

Law enforcement took three individuals into custody on Sunday and detectives interviewed them on scene to determine their involvement, if any.

LCPD officer Marcus Hardison sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm and was transported to the hospital. He was released from the UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville on Thursday afternoon, according to the LCPD.

Throughout the week, detectives have pursued numerous leads and reviewed hours of surveillance footage. Their efforts culminated in Thursday’s arrest of Claridy. Further updates will be provided as more arrests are anticipated.

LCPD asks anyone who witnessed the incident or may have video footage to contact detectives at 386-752-4343.

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