The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office on Monday identified the man who was shot and killed by deputies after allegedly firing a rifle at the Sabal Trail Transmission pipeline and leading a car chase.
The man, 66-year-old James Leroy Marker, was also identified as an anti-pipeline protester by a resistance organizer.
On Sunday, Marker, of Chokoloskee, Florida, damaged part of the controversial natural-gas pipe- line and construction equipment in Dunellon, Florida before fleeing the scene, according to a CCSO news release.
As he drove along U.S. Highway 41, Marker was followed by members of the Citrus and Marion County sheriff’s offices and Florida Highway Patrol, according to Alligator archives.
The chase ended when an FHP trooper rammed into Marker’s vehicle and stopped it, according to the release. Upon being stopped, Marker brandished his weapon and “engaged with law enforcement officers,” who then fatally shot him.
He was pronounced dead on the scene. Three CCSO deputies and one FHP trooper were involved in the shooting, according to the release. The deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave.
On Monday, about 15 anti-pipeline protesters gathered at 7 a.m. to hold a vigil for Marker.
Panagioti Tsolkas, an organizer for Sabal Trail Resistance who attended the vigil, said Marker was a passionate and dedicated protester, and his death was not excusable.
“Nothing they’ve shown yet comes anywhere close to justifying it,” he said. “He didn’t act recklessly. He didn’t injure anyone.”
No construction workers were present when Marker shot at the site, and no one was hurt, said Andrea Grover, a Sabal Trail Transmission spokesperson.
The construction remains on track to be completed by the end of June 2017, Grover said.
Contact Molly Vossler at mvossler@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @molly_vossler
