FHP releases video in slain Sabal Trail-shooter incident

The Florida Highway Patrol has released a dash-cam video of a high-speed chase from February that ended in Citrus County with law enforcement officers firing at and killing James Leroy Marker.

The video doesn’t show officers firing their weapons or Marker being shot, but captures the moments from when FHP Trooper Nicholas Dolan received the call until minutes after Marker was shot.

Last month, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement ruled that officers were within their rights to open fire on Marker, 66, of Chokoloskee. The video and an extensive report were only recently made available when the FHP wrapped up its internal investigation.

On Feb. 26, around 9:30 a.m., Marker led police on a highspeed chase from Dunnellon in Marion County into Floral City in Citrus County. Officers said that Marker shot at the Sabal Trail Transmission pipeline and nearby construction equipment several times with his rifle. No construction workers were present.

The massive pipeline project, which drew protests throughout its construction over concerns about impacts to water quality, safety and the company’s use of eminent domain to get the land for the pipeline, began moving natural gas earlier this month.

According to law enforcement, Marker left the rifle at the scene in Dunnellon. Citrus County sheriff’s deputies later caught up with him in his white Chevrolet pickup.

Dolan’s vehicle caught the chase via dash camera, and is the only video evidence from the chase, since Citrus County sheriff’s vehicles don’t have dash cameras.

The FDLE report says three Citrus deputies and Dolan fired at Marker between 54 and 58 times, striking him at least 12 times. Marker, who police say held a .45-caliber pistol in his right hand, did not discharge his weapon, the report found.

FDLE also found no indication that Marker was suicidal or a radical activist, although he was an environmentalist.