Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Dante Kevin McKeever-Coleman, 18, has been sentenced to two years in state prison as a youthful offender after pleading nolo contendere to the charges of shooting from a vehicle and possessing a firearm despite being an adjudicated delinquent.

McKeever-Coleman was initially arrested as a juvenile in December 2024 and later faced adult charges in June 2025. Although originally charged with two counts of attempted homicide, the formal charges were adjusted to shooting from a vehicle and illegal firearm possession. These charges stem from an incident on December 2, 2024, when Gainesville Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire on the 100 block of NW 10th Street.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered 27 shell casings scattered between 100 and 200 NW 10th Street. Witnesses reported that two groups were exchanging gunfire in the street. The shooting resulted in bullets striking several vehicles, both occupied and unoccupied, as well as an occupied residence. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Investigations revealed that McKeever-Coleman fired at two other individuals from a vehicle following a brief encounter at a nearby gas station.

It is important to note that McKeever-Coleman has a previous juvenile conviction from 2023, which legally prohibits him from possessing a firearm until he turns 24.

On January 13, McKeever-Coleman entered an open plea of nolo contendere to the two charges, with an agreement that the prosecutors would agree to a “youthful offender” sentence. Judge James Colaw sentenced him to two concurrent sentences of two years in state prison as a youthful offender in accordance with Florida Statute 958.04, followed by two years of community control (house arrest) and then by two years of probation.