On September 11, 2013, deputies responded to a call for help in regards to a battery that occurred at a home located on Dogwood Trail Run in Silver Springs Shores.
Laquan Barrow, 22, Gerod Jackson, 21, and Howard Hill, 19, were reported to have assaulted five victims at the home and then fled.
When deputies arrived at the home, they were met by five victims who stated they had been sitting at the front entrance of the residence when a brown/gray Dodge Charger with tinted windows and chrome trim pulled into the driveway.
Victims say the three men jumped out of the vehicle at which time suspect Hill raised his arm pointing a firearm in the victims direction, pulled the slide back, and said, “And what mother f***er.”
The suspects gave chase into the residence as the victims fled inside the home in fear for their lives.
According to reports, once inside the home Hill held the gun to a female striking her in the head with a closed fist, pushing her down on the floor, and then pulling a 52” flat screen TV onto her.
A male victim went into a bedroom and hid inside the closet, but not long after heard the suspects trying to get in. He heard Barrow say to Hill, “Man give me my gun, why you bring my gun in here.”
Eventually Barrow and Hill forced the door open, ordering the victim to exit the closet and at that point, Barrow told the victim that he had taken the gun from Hill.
Once out of the closet the victim was face to face with Hill and Jackson. That’s when the victim says Hill lunged at him and a physical altercation ensued at which time Jackson began attacking the victim as well.
During the fight between the three men the victim reported that Hill had asked Barrow for the firearm back and said, “I’m going to shoot this mother f***er”, however he did not regain the gun from Barrow.
According to deputies, the fight continued outside and when the suspects realized one of the victims had called police they jumped back into the Charger and fled.
Deputies were able to locate the vehicle a while later at a home located on Spring Terrace in Silver Springs Shores.
Laquan Barrow and Gerod Jackson were arrested at the residence and transported to the jail.
Barrow was booked into the Marion County Jail on five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and one count of armed burglary of an occupied dwelling.
He is currently out of jail on a $30,000 bond.
Barrow’s criminal record shows previous arrests for armed burglary of an occupied dwelling and grand theft back in January of 2010 in which he was released just over an hour later on a $25,000 bond.
Barrow was arrested again in December of 2010 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, spending just five days in jail before being released on a $50,000 bond.
Gerod Jackson was booked into the Marion County Jail on five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and one count of armed burglary of an occupied dwelling with battery.
He is currently being held on a $40,500 bond.
Jackson’s criminal history shows previous arrests for fleeing to elude an officer and resisting an officer without violence back in February of 2013.
Howard Hill, who is still on the run, is the youngest of the three and perhaps has the most troubling background out of them all.
Hills arrest record shows that back in December of 2012 he was charged with one count of animal cruelty and one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing bodily harm or disability.
In March of 2013 Hill was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm and then again in June of 2013 for battery.
Each time he was released on bond.
Hill is still at large and should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
If you have any information as to the whereabouts of Howard Hill, you are urged to call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at (352) 732-9111 or Crime stoppers of Marion County at (352) 368-STOP.