Ocala man indicted on murder charges stemming from T.B. McPherson shootings on Easter Sunday

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kaniel Jeremy Paul Edwards, 22, of Ocala, has been indicted by an Alachua County Grand Jury on charges of first-degree homicide, attempted homicide, and unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm, in connection with the Easter (April 20, 2025) shooting at T.B. McPherson Center that claimed the life of 20-year-old Ontaria Baisden. 

Edwards was arrested in August with two other Ocala men on charges related to a shooting that happened after the end of an Easter Egg hunt at T.B. McPherson Park on April 20 (see video here). All of the documents related to the arrests are still sealed, but according to the indictment, Edwards is charged with first-degree premeditated homicide for killing 20-year-old Ontaria Nevaeh Baisden while shooting at the other two defendants, Gabriel Frazier and Jarrett Jones Jr.

Edwards is also charged with first-degree attempted homicide for attempting to kill “Gabriel Frazier or Jarrett Jones Jr., or any other individual associated with Gabriel Frazier or Jarrett Jones Jr.” He was also charged with unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm.

A motion for pre-trial detention for Edwards states that three people were shot at the park on Easter Sunday, and the investigation determined that three shooters were involved and the incident was gang-related.

Following the Grand Jury indictment, Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered Edwards held without bail until trial on the homicide and attempted homicide charges and set bail at $10,000 on the concealed firearm charge.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.