A 26-year-old suspect in an attack on a woman was critically injured after he was shot by a Marion County sheriff’s deputy.
At 8:24 a.m. Sunday morning, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 5700 block of NW Gainesville Road in reference to a physical and verbal altercation between a male subject and a pregnant female victim. The victim told responding deputies that the suspect, Daniel Lee Irwin, was on drugs and that he had broken her finger, punched her in the face and put a gun in her mouth. The victim also advised that Irwin threatened to kill her and her daughter. According to the victim, Irwin stated that if law enforcement was called that there would be a shootout. Deputies established a perimeter and began tracking Irwin through a heavily wooded area.
After tracking Irwin for almost two hours, K-9 Deputy Matthew Hooper and his K-9 “Rambo”, along with several other deputies, tracked Irwin to the Magnum Construction site located at 6760 NW 27th Avenue Road in Ocala. K-9 Deputy Hooper and K-9 Rambo entered the complex to do a protective sweep and located Irwin. During the apprehension of the suspect, K-9 Deputy Hooper discharged his weapon and Irwin was wounded. Irwin was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Deputy Hooper and K9 Rambo were not injured during the incident.
On June 6, Irwin had been arrested for domestic battery by strangulation on the same victim involved this case.
In accordance with agency policy, K9 Deputy Hooper will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement responded to the scene and will be conducting the investigation into the officer involved shooting. Detectives with the MCSO Bureau of Special Investigations continue to investigate the initial complaint of felony domestic battery, false imprisonment and sexual battery.
