Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tyrique Lamontay Presley, 25, also known as Tyrique White, was arrested early this morning for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after officers heard shots near the Wawa on E. University Avenue and found a gun near where Presley was seen crouching behind a car.

Gainesville Police Department officers responded at about 1:30 a.m. to a report of a large number of people in the Wawa parking lot at 1007 E. University Avenue while the business was closed. Just after an officer arrived and signaled his presence by turning on his overhead lights, he reported hearing several shots from a small caliber firearm, followed by the sound of fireworks. The officer reported that several people were running south on SE 10th Street, away from the Wawa.

The officer reported that he saw Presley crouched behind a car, apparently trying to conceal himself from law enforcement. As the officer approached, Presley reportedly started walking northbound on SE 10th Street. The officer reported that he found a firearm under the rear bumper of the car where he had seen Presley and noted that Presley was the only person in the immediate vicinity of that car.

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The officer detained Presley, who reportedly said he was running from the sound of the gunshots. The officer asked why he was walking northbound when the other people were heading southbound; Presley reportedly replied that the firearm was not his.

Post Miranda, Presley reportedly declined to make any further statements.

Presley has five felony convictions (two violent); he served a five-year state prison sentence for possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent (a juvenile who has been convicted of an offense that would be a felony for an adult) and was released in 2021. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $50,000.

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.