SILVER SPRINGS SHORES, Fla. – A 26-year-old man was shot and killed early Wednesday in Marion County, leading deputies to find a 6-year-old home alone, authorities said.
Deputies said Jeffery Todd Aaron Jr. died in the shooting, which was reported at 2:15 a.m. in Silver Springs Shores.
According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to a shooting in progress in the area of Willow Road in Silver Springs Shores.
"When we got there we found a suspicious vehicle there that had been abandoned. It looked like it had been involved in a shooting," said Lauren Lettelier with Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Lettelier said it was quickly determined that the shooting happened in the driveway of a home at 36 Pine Course Loop.
Deputies said they secured the home and found the child home alone. Dispatchers then informed deputies that a woman called 911 and said she was driving the shooting victim to the hospital.
"While this was all going on we got a phone call from the person who was transporting the victim to the hospital. Saying that they are transporting them to the hospital," Lettelier said.
Aaron later died at Ocala Regional Medical Center, deputies said.
Aaron has a list of charges through Marion County Sheriff's Office dating back to 2009. His most recent charge was September for second degree attempted murder in September.
An investigation into the shooting is continuing.
The child was unharmed and is with family members, officials said. The relationship between Aaron, the woman and the child has not been released.
The Department of Children and Families has been notified.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 352-732-9111 or Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP.