By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
OZARK— It was tragically a busy night for law enforcement agencies in Ozark on Monday night as they investigated two separate shooting incidents that occurred within an hour of one another.
An Ozark man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder following a shooting Monday night near the intersection of College Street and College Lane that left a juvenile victim critically injured.
According to information obtained from the Ozark Police Department, officers, investigators, and members of the Dale County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a firearm assault at approximately 8 p.m. on June 8.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered a victim suffering from a gunshot wound while lying in the street. Authorities said the victim is a minor and was immediately transported to a local hospital by Ozark EMS and the Ozark Fire Department. The victim was later airlifted to a trauma center, where he remained in critical condition as of Tuesday.
Investigators determined the shooting stemmed from a verbal altercation involving two individuals who were part of a larger group. According to police, the confrontation escalated into violence, resulting in the victim being shot.
Police said investigators conducted an extensive investigation that included executing two search warrants, processing the crime scene for several hours, and utilizing numerous investigative resources to identify a suspect.
As a result of that investigation, authorities arrested 23-year-old Lakevion Cerano Shider of Ozark on a charge of attempted murder. He was booked into the Dale County Jail.
The case remains under investigation.
In a statement, the Ozark Police Department thanked the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, Dale County Coroner’s Office, Ozark EMS, Ozark Fire Department, Dale County E-911, Steve Woodham, the Ozark Public Works Department, and members of the public for their assistance during the investigation.
Police noted that both shooting investigations reported Monday evening were solved within 12 hours.
As with all criminal cases, the charge against Shider is an allegation. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
