Marion County deputy shoots, kills girlfriend with rifle while teaching how to clean guns, police say

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Published  September 20, 2024 5:29pm EDT
FOX 35 Orlando
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Deputy shoots, kills girlfriend with rifle: Sheriff's office

A former Marion County sheriff's deputy was arrested Thursday under suspicion of manslaughter after his girlfriend was shot in the head and killed, according to the Ocala Police Department.

The Brief

    • A former Marion County deputy was arrested for alleged manslaughter in the shooting death of his girlfriend, police say.
    • It happened on Thursday night at a home in the Highlands area.
    • The deputy was teaching his girlfriend how to clean a gun, and allowed her to ‘dry fire’ a 9 mm handugn. He ‘dry fired’ a rifle one time, pointed it at his girlfriend, fired a second time and struck the woman in the head.
    • ‘I know this looks really bad,’ he told officers.

OCALA, Fla. - A former Marion County sheriff's deputy was arrested Thursday under suspicion of manslaughter after his girlfriend was shot in the head and killed, according to the Ocala Police Department.

Police officers responded to a home in the Highlands area shortly before 11 p.m. for reports of a shooting.

A man – identified as Leslie Boileau, a former Marion County Sheriff's deputy – told 911 dispatchers that he had accidentally shot his girlfriend while the two were cleaning firearms, a news release said. The deputy described it as an "accidental discharge."

Boileau told officers that he and his girlfriend went to dinner earlier Thursday night and had three margaritas each. When the two returned home, he noticed a package of gun cleaning supplies he ordered online had arrived.

He said his girlfriend inquired about how to clean a firearm, and he began teaching and showing her how to disassemble and clean an AR-style rifle and a 9mm handgun. He admitted the two were pointing the guns at each other, which he knew was wrong. 

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He said he allowed his girlfriend to "dry fire" the 9mm handgun.

"Boileau stated he grabbed the rifle and dry-fired it one time. On the second dry fire attempt, Boileau had forgotten that he placed the loaded magazine into the rifle which shot one live round in the direction of (his girlfriend), ultimately killing her," the arrest report stated.

"I know this looks really bad," the deputy told officers at the scene. "I told her I did not want this to happen."

During a second interview, he told detectives that he and his girlfriend had previously done similar training, but described his actions Thursday night as "sloppy."

The Marion County Sheriff's Office said Boileau was "immediately terminated." He had been with the department for eight years, the agency said.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time." Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said in a statement.

Sheriff Billy Woods said in his statement: "We are heartbroken for the family and friends of the victim. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers do their job commendably every day. But unfortunately, the tragic actions of just one are felt through the entire law enforcement community."

The Source

  • Information from Ocala Police Department, Marion County Police Department, and Ocala Police Department arrest report.

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