(Marion County, FL) Yesterday, after a two-day trial where the prosecution presented compelling video evidence, a jury found 37-year-old Donald Lorenzo Roberts Jr. guilty on all counts. Roberts was charged with Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Discharging a Firearm in Public, and Providing False Identification to Law Enforcement. Following the verdict, Judge Peter M. Brigham sentenced Roberts, a Prison Releasee Reoffender, to 20 years in prison, consecutive to the 15-year sentence he is currently serving for another case.

The defendant’s charges stem from a shooting that occurred at the Motel 6 located off NW Blitchton Rd. near the I-75 overpass in Ocala, Florida. Officers with the Ocala Police Department (OPD) were dispatched to the motel in response to a call for service by the victim, who indicated they had been shot.

Responding officers found the victim with a gunshot wound and immediately rendered aid. While attending to the victim and awaiting emergency medical services to arrive, the victim gave a name and description of the shooter to law enforcement. The victim indicated the shooter had chased them down the second-story walkway of the motel before shooting them at point-blank range.   The victim was eventually taken to the hospital for further treatment.

An additional responding officer with OPD spotted an individual at a Marathon gas station in the area near the motel and I-75 overpass who matched the description of the suspect. The officer detained the individual, who initially gave a false name but was later identified as Roberts. Another assisting official searched the overpass and found a revolver hidden in the upper overpass section of the interstate, along with a black hoodie with a unique design matching Robert’s sweatpants, in the grass median area.

Authorities collected video surveillance footage from the nearby Marathon gas station and traffic cameras, which captured Roberts traveling from the motel, in the area of the overpass where the firearm and hoodie were recovered, before making his way to the gas station.  Roberts was promptly arrested and charged.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Meredith Poisson.   

Published 01/23/2026.