A homeless man is in the Marion County Jail after allegedly pulling a BB gun on a man and woman outside the Love’s Travel Stop in Ocala.
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy encountered 54-year-old Everett S. Youmans before arriving at the store, located at 7791 NW 47th Ave. When asked if he had a gun, Youmans said it was a BB gun. A pat down revealed a black handgun with BBs in its magazine. The deputy placed Youmans in the back of his patrol car and proceeded to the victim’s location.
The victim told the deputy that when he and his wife left the gas station, they parked just outside the store on NW 47th Avenue to walk their dogs. They saw Youmans sitting on the ground at the intersection of NW 47th Avenue and W Hwy. 326. The victim said Youmans walked up to him due to the fact they had been acquaintances for several weeks.
The victim said he and his wife sat down with the Youmans and talked without a problem, although he said Youmans appeared to be intoxicated. The victim said Youmans “out of nowhere” accused him of punching him in the face the previous night, and then showed him what appeared to be a pistol grip sticking out of his front right pocket.
According to the victim, Youmans didn’t pull the gun out at first, but after accusing the victim of punching him, he pulled it all the way out and pointed it at him. The victim said Youmans didn’t say anything when he pointed the gun, but he was in fear for his life because he thought it was a real gun. He said Youmans pointed the weapon away from him but was still holding it when he said, “I’ll shoot you in your (expletive deleted) eye. The victim and his wife left as soon as Youmans put the gun away.
Youmans told deputies he had never threatened anyone with a gun, and that he just showed some juveniles his new “toy.” He refused to say anything else after the deputy read him his rights.
Youmans was charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he remains held on $7,500 bond. He’s scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on April 17.