A former Florida sheriff’s deputy, Leslie Boileau, was arrested for manslaughter after accidentally shooting his girlfriend at their home in Ocala. Boileau called 911 to report the incident, stating that they were cleaning and handling firearms when the shooting occurred. The girlfriend was found with a gun on her lap and a rifle nearby. Boileau accidentally discharged a loaded round while demonstrating the use of a rifle, resulting in the fatal shooting. He told police that his girlfriend had asked him to teach her how to use the gun. Physical evidence found during the investigation corroborates Boileau’s account, leading to his arrest for manslaughter. Boileau was a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office but was terminated immediately after the shooting. Sheriff Billy Woods expressed condolences to the victim’s family and supported the Ocala Police Department in their investigation. The incident was described as a tragic accident by Police Chief Mike Balken, emphasizing that such actions impact the entire law enforcement community. The firearm used was not Boileau’s work firearm, indicating that the shooting occurred outside of his duties as a deputy.
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