Orange Park Man on Pre-Trial Release Detained for Alleged Assault on Women Near UF Campus

Early this morning in Gainesville, Florida, Raymond John McConnell, a 20-year-old from Orange Park, found himself in police custody following an alarming incident near the University of Florida campus. McConnell faces serious charges, including robbery by sudden snatching and three counts of battery, after he allegedly assaulted three women in a violent encounter.

The troubling events unfolded around 2 a.m. on January 25, when the three women were sitting on the curb along the 1800 block of NW 1st Avenue. They were waiting for a ride home when McConnell, accompanied by a group of three or four friends, reportedly approached them.

According to the victims, the situation escalated quickly. McConnell allegedly grabbed one of the women by the arm, pulling her abruptly to her feet. When a second woman attempted to intervene, urging McConnell to stop, he allegedly reacted with aggression. Reports indicate that he spat into his hand and struck the second woman with considerable force. The violence did not stop there; McConnell is accused of punching and kicking the second woman before brutally stomping on her head, neck, and upper body as she lay helpless on the ground.

In a desperate attempt to halt the assault, the first woman tried to step in. However, McConnell allegedly turned on her as well, inflicting punches and kicks before similarly stomping on her head and body once she was down.

The first woman tried to intervene, and McConnell allegedly punched and kicked her and then stomped on her head and body after she fell to the ground.

McConnell allegedly stole the second woman’s Coach purse and her iPhone and then walked away backwards, laughing at the victim. The third woman ran to confront him and succeeded in retrieving the second woman’s purse, and McConnell allegedly pushed her; she said she did not know he had taken the second woman’s phone.

The phone was found a few blocks away, with a damaged screen.

The third woman was not injured, but the other two women had internal pain and numerous scratches and bruises.

A witness reportedly told the officer that she saw McConnell spit on his hand and slap the second woman in the face with the same hand; she said the first and second women were attacked by McConnell and he took the second woman’s purse and phone.

McConnell has been charged with robbery by sudden snatching and three counts of battery. Judge James Colaw signed a warrant for his arrest on January 29 and set bail at $65,000. McConnell has four misdemeanor convictions, and he is on pre-trial release for two more misdemeanor charges out of Duval County.

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.