Ocala, Florida — Detective Jorge Fernandez and fellow detectives from the Ocala Police Department have been continuing to investigate the homicide of Samuel Washington, which occurred on November 14, 2013.
In the course of their investigation they have been able to link the homicide of Washington, to the shooting of Michael Drayton, that occurred on November 7, 2013.
There are two groups that have been having on-going issues with one another. One group originates from the area of the Silver Springs Shores and the other is from the area of Parkside Gardens Apartments.
Both shootings also originated with conflicts that occurred at the club Cloud 9 just prior to the shootings.
Drayton, who is associated with the group out of Silver Springs Shores, was shot as a result of a conflict between the two groups that occurred at Cloud 9 the evening of November 6, 2013.
The shooting homicide of Washington, who was associated with the group from the Parkside Gardens area, is said to have been a retaliation by the group from the Silver Springs Shores area for the shooting of Drayton.
Detective Jamie Buchbinder continues to investigate the shooting of Drayton.
Detective Fernandez has arrested two persons for crimes in relation to the homicide: Howard Lee Hill, and Laquan Ria’Mel Barrow, were both arrested for one count each of Burglary of a Conveyance with a Battery. Detective Fernandez has now obtained warrants for two black male suspects for charges relating to the homicide: Tydree Najee Barrow and Gerod McFero Rawls. The charges on the warrants are for four counts each of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and and count each of Throwing Deadly Missiles into an Occuppied Vehicle. The shooters in each of the incidents have not yet been identified.
Convicted Felon, Gerod Rawls, may have ties to Volusia County. Rawls has been arrested two separate times: once in 2011 and again in 2012, both arrests were for Trafficking Cocaine.
Currently there isn’t any information available on Tydree Barrow, however he is believed to be in the Ocala area.
Residents in the areas of Silver Springs Shores and Parkside Apartments should be on the lookout for the two suspects. If you see something, say something.
Anyone with further information on either, or both, of these cases is asked to contact either Det. Jamie Buchbinder at 352-369-7141 or Det. Jorge Fernandez at 352-369-7145, or to submit tips through the OPD mobile app, MyPD, in which the tipster has the option to remain anonymous. Tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Marion County by calling 352-368-STOP(7867), going to their website at www.ocalacrimestoppers.com or by texting to 274637 using keyword 368STOP.