Claridy identified as shooter in video released Thursday.
Claridy
The person seen in a surveillance video appearing to fire a shot at Annie Mattox Park on Sunday was arrested Thursday.
The Lake City Police Department announced Friday morning that 25-year-old Justin Claridy was arrested Thursday for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Greg Burnsed, an LCPD spokesman, said Friday that Claridy was identified as the person in the video released Thursday.
“He is definitely a shooter,” Burnsed said.
However, Burnsed added authorities are still waiting on ballistic reports to determine if Claridy was the person who shot Lake City Police Officer Marcus Hardison. Hardison, one of 19 law enforcement officers at the park for crowd control for the annual Easter celebration which was attended by several thousand people, was shot in the upper right arm.
Hardison, who underwent surgery Monday, was released Thursday and escorted to his home in Jacksonville.
After pursuing numerous leads and reviewing hours of surveillance footage, both from cameras at the private park on the northeast side of Lake City and from witnesses at the party, detectives released a clip Thursday seeking help to identify a person, who was seen running and jumping over a railing and then appearing to fire a shot behind him.
Burnsed confirmed that person was identified as Claridy.
“He was released from prison Saturday, did this Sunday and went and visited his probation officer Monday,” Burnsed said.
According to the LCPD release, more arrests are anticipated.
Anyone who recognizes the individual, witnessed the incident or has additional video footage is asked to contact LCPD detectives at 386-752-4343. Information can also be reported anonymously through the LCPD’s TIPS line at 386-719-2068 or Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at 386-754-7099.