MEDIA RELEASE
Date: June 6, 2010
Time: 8:30 PM
Morriston, Florida- On June 5, 2010 deputies responded to 7790 SE 181 Court in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival at the residence deputies found Joshua Eubanks lying on the ground bleeding from multiple gun shot wounds. The victim's girlfriend, Rebecca Saverns and her 4 month old child was present during the shooting.
The investigation revealed that the victim and suspect were involved in a drug transaction. The suspect left the victim's residence but returned a short time later. The victim met the suspect in the driveway and walked to the suspect's vehicle. The suspect was armed with a gun and told the victim to give him the narcotics. The suspect shot the victim multiple times in the upper torso and robbed him of the narcotics. The victim's girlfriend, Rebecca Saverns heard the shots and jumped out of her vehicle leaving her 4 month old child to assist her boyfriend. The suspect pointed the firearm at Saverns and she turned and ran away from the scene. Eubanks was airlifted to an undisclosed hospital where he is in serious condition.
On June 6, 2010 investigator Tom Martin & Jay Crooms developed leads in the case and identified the person of interest as James Douglas Sexton, 21 from Apopka, Fl. The investigators believed that Sexton might be in Ocala and the manhunt began with the assistance of the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Sexton was located on foot in the North East section of Ocala and he led deputies on a short foot chase where he was apprehended. Sexton is currently in the Marion County Jail for violation of probation from Seminole County for grand theft.
Sexton was positively indentified through a photo lineup as the person that shot Joshua Eubanks. Levy County investigators has placed a hold on Sexton and will obtaining arrest warrants for attempted homicide and a host of other felony charges.
Defendant:
James Douglas Sexton
Apopka, Fl.
White Male
01/23/89
###