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Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An 18-year-old from Newberry, Vontrell Deshune Scott II, has been taken into custody following allegations of his involvement in a violent incident at the Oaks Mall on February 14. This altercation escalated to the point where the victim, in self-defense, discharged a firearm inside a jewelry store. Scott faces charges under Florida’s rioting statute. Prior to this, Ra’jon Richard White, aged 19, had already been arrested, and authorities have filed a sworn complaint against another suspect, Kellis Marquis Kennedy, also 19, who remains at large.
The Gainesville Police Department detailed that the confrontation began around 2:45 p.m. on February 14, as the victim, accompanied by a woman, was shopping at Kay Jewelers located at the Oaks Mall on W. Newberry Road. As the situation unfolded, three young men, including White, allegedly encircled the victim, effectively trapping him. White reportedly initiated the assault by throwing punches, with Scott and Kennedy joining in, delivering multiple blows to the victim while positioned near the jewelry counter.
An eyewitness attempted to intervene in the fray but was reportedly shoved aside by Kennedy. In a desperate bid to escape, the victim fell to the ground where Scott allegedly continued the assault by jumping on him and stomping. Under this intense physical attack, the victim managed to retrieve a pistol from his waistband, firing a single shot in an act of self-defense.
For further context, readers can refer to our article detailing the victim’s subsequent arrest for illegally carrying a concealed weapon.
Employees of the store ran to hide behind the counters while the victim and the three suspects ran out of the mall. Mall customers reportedly locked themselves inside department stores until law enforcement arrived. The officer wrote that the victim, the witness, and other mall customers were injured, including but not limited to an elderly woman who was trampled and received medical treatment at the scene, and “numerous” people were endangered by the actions of the suspects.
Florida’s rioting statute states, “A person commits a riot if he or she willfully participates in a violent public disturbance involving an assembly of three or more persons, acting with a common intent to assist each other in violent and disorderly conduct, resulting in: (a) Injury to another person; (b) Damage to property; or (c) Imminent danger of injury to another person or damage to property.”
The officer noted that the three suspects “have been known to associate themselves with the criminal gang ‘EBK’” in southwest Gainesville.
A warrant for Scott’s arrest was issued on February 19, and he was arrested yesterday. A warrant for Kennedy has not been filed in the court system yet.
Scott has been charged with battery and rioting. He has a juvenile felony conviction from 2024 but no adult criminal history. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $750,000, the amount specified by Judge Robert Groeb in the arrest warrant, and ordered him to possess no firearms, stay away from the Oaks Mall, and have no contact with the other two suspects.
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.