A tragic incident unfolded in the Highlands area of Marion County on Thursday night, leading to the arrest of former deputy Leslie Boileau for manslaughter. The Ocala Police Department responded to a distress call around 10:52 p.m., with Boileau reporting that he accidentally shot his girlfriend. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the forehead and found a handgun in her lap, along with a rifle at the scene. Boileau recounted that he and his girlfriend had returned from dinner and were cleaning the guns when the fatal shot was fired while he was demonstrating the use of the rifle.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by WESH 2, Boileau explained to authorities that his girlfriend had requested him to teach her how to handle the gun. Unfortunately, during this lesson, a loaded round was discharged accidentally, resulting in the tragic death of the woman. Despite acknowledging the severity of the situation, Boileau expressed his regret, stating, "I know this looks really bad... I did not want this to happen." The Ocala Police Department conducted a thorough search of the residence, finding physical evidence that aligned with Boileau's account of the incident.

In the wake of this heartbreaking event, Boileau was swiftly taken into custody and is now facing manslaughter charges. Both the Ocala Police Department and the State Attorney's Office are working diligently to ensure that justice is served. The Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Boileau had been serving as a deputy sheriff for eight years but was promptly terminated from his position following the fatal shooting. It was also clarified that the firearm involved in the tragedy did not belong to the sheriff's office. Sheriff Billy Woods expressed his sympathies, emphasizing the impact of one individual's actions on the entire law enforcement community, and pledged support to the ongoing investigation into this devastating incident. Boileau is presently being held without bond at the Marion County Jail.