In a startling turn of events in Gainesville, Florida, Jermaine Williams, 43, has been taken into custody following charges related to a shooting incident that took place in the Ridgeview neighborhood on December 5. The altercation, which grew from a heated exchange of text messages, escalated into a physical confrontation.

On the evening of December 5, around 6:30 p.m., officers from the Gainesville Police Department responded to reports of gunfire on the 3200 block of NW 21st Street. According to the victim, the conflict began earlier that day through a series of text messages exchanged with Williams. In an effort to settle their dispute, the victim invited Williams to his residence for a face-to-face fight.

The situation took a dangerous turn when the victim received a text message from Williams stating, “I’m outside.” Upon stepping out of his house, the victim reported hearing Williams call out to him. As he approached, Williams, who was positioned approximately 30 feet away, allegedly fired a shot in his direction. Though the bullet narrowly missed, the victim believed Williams’s intent was to kill. The victim promptly contacted 911 while Williams fled the scene on foot.

Police officers later discovered a .25 caliber shell casing near the spot where the victim claimed Williams had been standing. A bullet had struck a mailbox situated behind where the victim had been when the shot was fired. The officer’s analysis suggested that the angle of the bullet’s impact was consistent with an attempt to shoot the victim directly, rather than a warning shot or one aimed at the ground.

Eyewitness accounts corroborated the victim’s story. One witness confirmed hearing a single gunshot prior to the arrival of law enforcement. Another individual, familiar with Williams, reported seeing him in the vicinity shortly after the incident and recounted that Williams admitted to having shot at the victim.

Post Miranda, Williams did not want to answer any questions without a lawyer.

As a career offender, Williams is required to report his address to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO), but a GPD officer investigating the shooting learned that the man who leased the property at Williams’ registered address had passed away in August, and Williams had to leave the property because it was leased to a new tenant. ASO told the GPD officer that Williams had not updated his address, so he has also been charged with failing to register a change of address as a career offender.

Williams has been charged with attempted first-degree homicide, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and failure to report a change of address as a career offender. He has nine felony convictions (five violent) and four misdemeanor convictions (non-violent), and he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2015. Judge Julie Johnson ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.