Bennie Keys III : “Man Accused of Shooting Juvenile Denied Bail”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. “Man accused of shooting juvenile”
2. “Denial of bail for shooting over unpaid phone bill”

Prosecutors intend to request the court to detain a man without bail as he faces charges, including shooting a minor multiple times over an unpaid phone bill. Bennie Keys III appeared in front of County Judge Lori Cotton via Zoom for his initial hearing. He is facing serious charges like attempted first-degree murder with a firearm and other offenses. The judge appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Keys, who is now being held without bail pending a hearing. The victim is recovering, and the investigation is ongoing. Keys has a history of criminal activities and was released from prison in 2018. For more details, contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com.

**Man Accused of Shooting Juvenile Over Unpaid Phone Bill Faces Pre-Trial Detention**

In a shocking incident that left a community in disbelief, prosecutors plan to ask the court to hold a man without bail as they prosecute him for multiple offenses, including shooting a juvenile over an unpaid phone bill. Bennie Keys III had his first appearance hearing on March 22 in front of County Judge Lori Cotton, where he appeared via Zoom from the jail.

Keys, a convicted felon, is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possessing a weapon, and fleeing eluding a law enforcement officer with lights/sirens active. The judge appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent him during the hearing.

Assistant State Attorney Barbara Harris informed the judge that her office will seek pre-trial detention for Keys and request that he be held without bail. The judge agreed to hold Keys without bail pending a hearing on the state’s request and warned him that he cannot operate a motor vehicle if released.

The incident in question occurred on March 18 in the 500 block of Southwest 27th Avenue, where Ocala police responded to a shooting. Shell casings were found at the scene, leading authorities to a description of a vehicle that transported an injured juvenile to a local hospital. Sgt. Jared Sieg followed the vehicle, which led to a pursuit and subsequent crash in a Wawa parking lot.

During the investigation, detectives learned that the shooting stemmed from an unpaid phone bill. The victim, who usually paid his girlfriend’s phone bill, failed to do so on a recent occasion, resulting in the altercation with Keys. The bill in question was for less than $100, according to police officials.

Keys, riding in a vehicle, approached the victim, pulled out a firearm, and opened fire, hitting the juvenile three times in the upper body. Another passenger in the vehicle returned fire, but Keys was not hit. The shooter’s criminal history includes carjacking and a weapons offense, with previous imprisonment before his release in 2018.

In his hearing, Keys, a 33-year-old man who has lived in Marion County for a decade after relocating from Michigan, expressed his desire to start a new life and attend college. He mentioned that his family owns and operates a business in the area.

As the case unfolds, authorities continue to investigate the incident and prepare for the upcoming legal proceedings. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

For any additional information or tips on the case, feel free to contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com.