LEESBURG, Fla. – Kenneth Dalon Bailey, 22, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of 87-year-old Clarence Harold Ervin at a Leesburg gas station.
The Lake County State Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing following Bailey’s guilty plea. Judge Cary Rada presided over the case.
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“Despite his young age, this defendant made the choice that led to the tragic and senseless loss of an innocent life. This conviction and substantial sentence underscore the seriousness of his actions and provide justice for the victim’s family and friends,” said Walter Forgie, Chief Assistant State Attorney.
The incident occurred on September 28, 2024, at a gas station on West Main Street. Leesburg Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting and found Ervin with gunshot wounds. He was transported for medical treatment but later died from his injuries.
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Witnesses at the scene provided descriptions of the suspects and their direction of flight. Video surveillance from the gas station showed three suspects approaching Ervin as he sat in his vehicle at the gas pump. Two suspects stood by the passenger door, while Bailey stood by the driver’s door. After a brief exchange of words, Bailey shot Ervin.
Following a public appeal for information, authorities identified Craig Stevenson Jr. as one of the suspects. A witness also identified Bailey as a friend of Stevenson’s.
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Both Bailey and Stevenson were arrested for their involvement in the crime. The investigation into the third suspect is ongoing.
Assistant State Attorneys Ken Nunnelley and Shannon Schlarf prosecuted the case.
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