Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early today, 33-year-old Lavonta Omar Beasley found himself behind bars after accusations surfaced of him injuring one woman and brandishing a knife at another.

On the evening of January 18, at approximately 10:14 p.m., Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to reports of an armed conflict. Upon arrival at the emergency room, they encountered two victims. The woman involved in a domestic altercation exhibited swelling around her eyes, a facial cut, and several bruises.

The second woman recounted that the domestic violence victim had phoned her, crying and frantic, during a physical altercation between Beasley and the victim. Concerned for her friend and her friend’s children, she rushed to their residence. Upon arrival, Beasley reportedly revealed a knife tucked into his waistband. Approaching her menacingly with the weapon, he instilled fear for her safety. However, she managed to calm the situation, prompting Beasley to exit the premises.

Authorities later apprehended Beasley. During questioning, after being advised of his rights, he allegedly admitted to striking the domestic violence victim once, claiming it was in retaliation after she hit him first.

Beasley has been charged with domestic battery with bodily harm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His full criminal history is unavailable because of the holiday, but he has served two state prison sentences for five felonies out of Escambia County; he was most recently released in March 2025 after serving a four-year sentence for cocaine trafficking. Judge Sean Brewer 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.