Leon Jarrell Simms, 38, of Sebring, turned himself in on Monday and was booked into the Highlands County Jail after investigators linked him to a late-night shooting in the Placid Lakes neighborhood that left a 30-year-old man dead. Authorities say the victim, Marvin Lekeith Sholtz Jr., was driving when a pickup pulled alongside and opened fire, sending his car off the road and into a parked vehicle before it hit the exterior of a home. No one inside the house was hurt, and detectives say they are still working to nail down the motive and timeline.
Charges and arrest
According to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, Simms surrendered at the Highlands County Jail and now faces charges that include second-degree murder, discharging a weapon from a vehicle, firing a deadly missile into a vehicle and improper exhibition of a firearm. The sheriff’s office posted his booking photo and the list of charges on its news page and added a familiar reminder for high-profile cases, noting, “Not all arrests result in convictions. Everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.”
How deputies say it unfolded
Deputies say Sholtz was driving a gray Ford Fusion west on Lake Groves Road around 8:30 p.m. when a truck carrying two people pulled alongside and someone fired multiple shots into his vehicle before the truck sped away, as reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Sholtz’s car then plowed through two front yards, hit a parked vehicle and slammed into the side of a house, deputies said. Investigators told reporters the gunfire stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Sholtz and the occupants of the truck.
Suspects and investigation
Detectives identified the truck’s driver as 31-year-old Andrew Anthony Berry. He was arrested last week and charged with second-degree murder, discharging a weapon from a vehicle and improper exhibition of a firearm, Tampa Bay 28 reports. When Berry was taken into custody, investigators said they were still looking for Simms for questioning. Authorities say the investigation remains very much active, with deputies following up on witness tips and combing through physical evidence.
How to help
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information to call 863-402-7250, email [email protected] or submit anonymous tips through the HCSO app or Heartland Crime Stoppers' P3tips system, according to the sheriff’s office release. Officials say additional details from the public could help clarify who fired the shots and why, and they emphasized that community safety remains a priority while the case moves forward. The sheriff's office has not publicly released a motive.
Legal note
The charges against Simms and Berry are allegations, and under Florida law both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case will proceed through Highlands County's court system, and the sheriff's office says it will continue coordinating with prosecutors as investigators develop the case.
