MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities arrested a man Wednesday on suspicion of shooting and killing a neighbor after the neighbor’s cat wandered onto his property in the Ocala National Forest, according to WFTV and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies told WFTV that they were called to a reported shooting on Southeast 258th Avenue Road around 10:30 a.m. Investigators determined that Cliffton Anthony Bliss, 58, shot and killed his neighbor, James Arland Taylor, 41, officials said.
Bliss became angry and grabbed a shotgun after a cat belonging to Taylor walked onto his property, WFTV reported. After Taylor asked Bliss not to shoot the animal, Bliss instead shot Taylor, according to deputies.
Two witnesses, who were not identified by name, described Bliss as a “troublemaker” and said he often confronted neighbors about their pets, according to WFTV.
Authorities booked Bliss into Marion County Jail on one count of second-degree murder, WFTV reported. He is being held without bail.