Topline: Police say the shooting happened in a quiet neighborhood Wednesday afternoon and does not appear to have been targeted.
Published: January 10, 2026 8:05 am ET
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Isaac Ezekiel Toye (via Ocala Police Department)
OCALA, FL — Police say a man was shot and killed in his front yard in an act that reportedly appears to have been random and unprovoked.
According to the Ocala Police Department, officers were dispatched around 3:34 p.m. after a 911 caller reported a suspicious person in the 900 block of Southeast Third Street. The caller told police that as he was pulling out of his driveway, he was approached by a Black male dressed in all black who motioned for him to stop. The caller continued driving and said he saw the man manipulate what he believed was a handgun, appearing to rack the slide.
Police say officers were immediately sent to the area. Within minutes, a second 911 call came in reporting a shooting roughly a block east of the first location.
Responding officers located the victim, identified as 64-year-old Harold Whitt Harper, in the front yard of his home. According to police and court records obtained by WCJB, Harper had been shot once in the back of the head and died from his injuries at the scene.
As officers responded to the shooting, one of the first officers on scene spotted a man matching the description from the earlier suspicious-person call walking nearby. Police identified him as 29-year-old Isaac Ezekiel Toye. He was found two blocks south of the victim’s home and was detained. Officers say Toye was carrying a pistol at the time.
Investigators later determined that witness statements and physical evidence placed Toye at both the initial suspicious encounter and the shooting scene, according to the Ocala Police Department. Based on that investigation, police developed probable cause to charge Toye with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of homicide.
An arrest report cited by WCJB states that officers recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from Toye’s hoodie and later found a single shell casing next to Harper’s body that was determined to match the firearm Toye was carrying. Police also searched a backpack Toye had with him and located two magazines, each loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition.
Family members told investigators that Harper had been gardening in his front yard at the time of the shooting. According to WCJB, Harper had recently undergone major neck surgery and used gardening as a form of therapy. Relatives said he was not carrying any tools other than a bucket used for collecting weeds.
A neighbor told investigators she heard a gunshot and went outside, where she saw Harper’s wife and heard her say, “My husband’s dead.”
Police said there is no indication that Toye and Harper knew each other or had any prior interaction. Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said no motive has been identified.
“It appears that he was doing nothing more than gardening in his front yard, and was senselessly killed,” Balken said. “This is, you know, I’ve been here for almost 32 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Police emphasized that the incident does not appear to have been targeted, according to WESH.
“This horrific incident appears to be a random act of violence. There is no indication, I’ll repeat, that. There’s no indication that this was a targeted attack,” Balken said.
The Ocala Police Department echoed that assessment in its release, stating that investigators do not believe there are additional suspects and that there is no further danger to the community.
“Our hearts go out to the Harper family during this difficult time,” the department said, while thanking neighborhood residents who came forward with information that helped investigators quickly identify a suspect.
Neighbors told WCJB the killing has left the community shaken. One neighbor, Joan Zoeller, described Harper as a dedicated gardener and a friendly presence on the street.
“He is a wonderful neighbor. His passion was gardening, and that’s what he’s left to do,” Zoeller said. “Just very, very nice man, always says hello to anybody.”
Toye has since pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to WCJB. He is being held on charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault as the investigation continues.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Man Shot, Killed While Gardening During ‘Random Act of Violence’
Police say the shooting happened in a quiet neighborhood Wednesday afternoon and does not appear to have been targeted.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 10, 2026 8:05 am ET
Isaac Ezekiel Toye (via Ocala Police Department)
OCALA, FL — Police say a man was shot and killed in his front yard in an act that reportedly appears to have been random and unprovoked.
According to the Ocala Police Department, officers were dispatched around 3:34 p.m. after a 911 caller reported a suspicious person in the 900 block of Southeast Third Street. The caller told police that as he was pulling out of his driveway, he was approached by a Black male dressed in all black who motioned for him to stop. The caller continued driving and said he saw the man manipulate what he believed was a handgun, appearing to rack the slide.
Police say officers were immediately sent to the area. Within minutes, a second 911 call came in reporting a shooting roughly a block east of the first location.
Responding officers located the victim, identified as 64-year-old Harold Whitt Harper, in the front yard of his home. According to police and court records obtained by WCJB, Harper had been shot once in the back of the head and died from his injuries at the scene.
As officers responded to the shooting, one of the first officers on scene spotted a man matching the description from the earlier suspicious-person call walking nearby. Police identified him as 29-year-old Isaac Ezekiel Toye. He was found two blocks south of the victim’s home and was detained. Officers say Toye was carrying a pistol at the time.
Investigators later determined that witness statements and physical evidence placed Toye at both the initial suspicious encounter and the shooting scene, according to the Ocala Police Department. Based on that investigation, police developed probable cause to charge Toye with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of homicide.
An arrest report cited by WCJB states that officers recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from Toye’s hoodie and later found a single shell casing next to Harper’s body that was determined to match the firearm Toye was carrying. Police also searched a backpack Toye had with him and located two magazines, each loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition.
Family members told investigators that Harper had been gardening in his front yard at the time of the shooting. According to WCJB, Harper had recently undergone major neck surgery and used gardening as a form of therapy. Relatives said he was not carrying any tools other than a bucket used for collecting weeds.
A neighbor told investigators she heard a gunshot and went outside, where she saw Harper’s wife and heard her say, “My husband’s dead.”
Police said there is no indication that Toye and Harper knew each other or had any prior interaction. Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said no motive has been identified.
“It appears that he was doing nothing more than gardening in his front yard, and was senselessly killed,” Balken said. “This is, you know, I’ve been here for almost 32 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Police emphasized that the incident does not appear to have been targeted, according to WESH.
“This horrific incident appears to be a random act of violence. There is no indication, I’ll repeat, that. There’s no indication that this was a targeted attack,” Balken said.
The Ocala Police Department echoed that assessment in its release, stating that investigators do not believe there are additional suspects and that there is no further danger to the community.
“Our hearts go out to the Harper family during this difficult time,” the department said, while thanking neighborhood residents who came forward with information that helped investigators quickly identify a suspect.
Neighbors told WCJB the killing has left the community shaken. One neighbor, Joan Zoeller, described Harper as a dedicated gardener and a friendly presence on the street.
“He is a wonderful neighbor. His passion was gardening, and that’s what he’s left to do,” Zoeller said. “Just very, very nice man, always says hello to anybody.”
Toye has since pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to WCJB. He is being held on charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault as the investigation continues.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Man Shot, Killed While Gardening During ‘Random Act of Violence’
Police say the shooting happened in a quiet neighborhood Wednesday afternoon and does not appear to have been targeted.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 10, 2026 8:05 am ET
Isaac Ezekiel Toye (via Ocala Police Department)
OCALA, FL — Police say a man was shot and killed in his front yard in an act that reportedly appears to have been random and unprovoked.
According to the Ocala Police Department, officers were dispatched around 3:34 p.m. after a 911 caller reported a suspicious person in the 900 block of Southeast Third Street. The caller told police that as he was pulling out of his driveway, he was approached by a Black male dressed in all black who motioned for him to stop. The caller continued driving and said he saw the man manipulate what he believed was a handgun, appearing to rack the slide.
Police say officers were immediately sent to the area. Within minutes, a second 911 call came in reporting a shooting roughly a block east of the first location.
Responding officers located the victim, identified as 64-year-old Harold Whitt Harper, in the front yard of his home. According to police and court records obtained by WCJB, Harper had been shot once in the back of the head and died from his injuries at the scene.
As officers responded to the shooting, one of the first officers on scene spotted a man matching the description from the earlier suspicious-person call walking nearby. Police identified him as 29-year-old Isaac Ezekiel Toye. He was found two blocks south of the victim’s home and was detained. Officers say Toye was carrying a pistol at the time.
Investigators later determined that witness statements and physical evidence placed Toye at both the initial suspicious encounter and the shooting scene, according to the Ocala Police Department. Based on that investigation, police developed probable cause to charge Toye with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of homicide.
An arrest report cited by WCJB states that officers recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from Toye’s hoodie and later found a single shell casing next to Harper’s body that was determined to match the firearm Toye was carrying. Police also searched a backpack Toye had with him and located two magazines, each loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition.
Family members told investigators that Harper had been gardening in his front yard at the time of the shooting. According to WCJB, Harper had recently undergone major neck surgery and used gardening as a form of therapy. Relatives said he was not carrying any tools other than a bucket used for collecting weeds.
A neighbor told investigators she heard a gunshot and went outside, where she saw Harper’s wife and heard her say, “My husband’s dead.”
Police said there is no indication that Toye and Harper knew each other or had any prior interaction. Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said no motive has been identified.
“It appears that he was doing nothing more than gardening in his front yard, and was senselessly killed,” Balken said. “This is, you know, I’ve been here for almost 32 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Police emphasized that the incident does not appear to have been targeted, according to WESH.
“This horrific incident appears to be a random act of violence. There is no indication, I’ll repeat, that. There’s no indication that this was a targeted attack,” Balken said.
The Ocala Police Department echoed that assessment in its release, stating that investigators do not believe there are additional suspects and that there is no further danger to the community.
“Our hearts go out to the Harper family during this difficult time,” the department said, while thanking neighborhood residents who came forward with information that helped investigators quickly identify a suspect.
Neighbors told WCJB the killing has left the community shaken. One neighbor, Joan Zoeller, described Harper as a dedicated gardener and a friendly presence on the street.
“He is a wonderful neighbor. His passion was gardening, and that’s what he’s left to do,” Zoeller said. “Just very, very nice man, always says hello to anybody.”
Toye has since pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to WCJB. He is being held on charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault as the investigation continues.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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