A sheriff’s deputy who authorities said was repeatedly stabbed in the chest by an assailant on May 13 has led to the arrest of a suspect charged with attempted murder, giving false identification to a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence.
Heriberto Medina Marquez was booked into the county jail shortly before 1:30 a.m. May 14 without bond.
The incident occurred a day before the Fallen Officer Memorial, held May 14.
In Marion County, 19 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty, according to records. The deaths occurred between 1881 and 2015.
The most recent sheriff’s deputy injured in the line of duty was Deputy Alexander Guillard in 2025. Officials said Guillard was shot at multiple times by Rheanna Diane Harden, who was seated in the back of a patrol vehicle while being transported to the jail following her arrest.
A bullet grazed Guillard’s right eye, deputies said. Harden is currently serving a 40-year prison sentence after being convicted Feb. 16 on multiple charges, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.
What happened in May 13 incident
According to sheriff’s officials, Deputy Robert Fitch, a former Dunnellon Police Department officer who joined the sheriff’s office in May 2023, responded to a report of a suspicious individual at 11775 NW 10th Place in Dunnellon around 5 p.m. When Fitch exited his vehicle, authorities said he was ambushed by the suspect and fell to the ground.
While Fitch was on the ground, officials said Medina Marquez got on top of him and repeatedly stabbed him in the chest before fleeing into a nearby wooded area. Authorities said the 38-year-old Dunnellon man used a knife.
A second deputy arrived on scene, and Medina Marquez later emerged from the woods, where he was taken into custody without incident. Authorities said Medina Marquez was found with two knives in his possession.
While being placed in a patrol vehicle, Medina Marquez was overheard saying, “I should have killed you, you know that right,” officials said.
Fitch suffered minor injuries, and sheriff’s officials said his bulletproof vest saved his life.
Interviews
Detectives interviewed a man who said Medina Marquez was outside his residence yelling curse words while standing in the roadway. The man said he called law enforcement out of concern. Prior to the verbal incident, the man said Medina Marquez appeared to be peaceful.
The man told detectives he had known the suspect since elementary school and was unaware whether Medina Marquez had mental health issues.
Deputies also spoke with Medina Marquez’s family, who said he was taking medication for his mental health and was generally peaceful with others.
According to the report, Medina Marquez does not have a local criminal history.
A detective noted in the report that Medina Marquez acted strangely and cursed at deputies during an attempted interview. The detective said Medina Marquez stated he should have killed a “curse word,” apparently referring to Fitch. Medina Marquez also reportedly said he felt sorry for the deputy because he was on the ground and again said he should have killed him, according to the report.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Man accused of stabbing Marion County deputy charged with attempted murder
Reporting by Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
