Crystal River man charged with attempted murder, 5 days after his release from prison
By Brittney Carman, Community Relations Specialist
Citrus County, Florida - On Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, 32 year-old, Demare Barnes of Crystal River was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) on attempted murder charges stemming from a shooting incident that occurred during the early morning hours of Sunday, October 4.
On Sunday morning, the CCSO received a call that reported a disturbance at the Circle K convenience store, located at 7985 N. Citrus Ave. in Crystal River. Deputies arrived at the store to find a crowd of approximately 60 to 80 people, and the sound of gunshots being fired.
According to a press release, numerous physical altercations were ongoing, and deputies attempted to gain control of the situation and determine which people were the perpetrators. While dispersing the crowd, deputies noticed a truck that had multiple gunshot holes near the front, where the driver was seated iside the vehicle but not injured, during the shooting.
Although a large crowd was present during the incident, many witnesses were uncooperative with deputies. Detective Ramos with the CCSO Major Crimes Unit began an investigation into the events leading up to this shooting. Through a photo array, Detective Ramos identified Demare Barnes as the shooting suspect.
A criminal history check of Mr. Barnes revealed that he's been convicted of had nine felonies, which include battery and fleeing from or eluding law enforcement officers, and he had just been released from prison, just five days prior to this incident, on October 1, 2020.
A warrant was issued for Barnes' arrest. He was located in Crystal River on Tuesday and taken into custody by deputies with the CCSO Tactical Impact Unit and agents with the United States Marshall's Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Barnes was charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and violation of probation. He is being held at the Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto, FL, with his bond set at none.
"Barnes is no stranger to violence," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "His extensive criminal history makes that evident. Despite being sentenced in 2016 and serving four years in Union Correctional Institute, Barnes still posed a deadly threat to our community. I am so thankful the victim in this case was not harmed, and CCSO professionals were able to rapidly capture this dangerous criminal for the safety of our citizens."