Staff report
Gainesville Police Department officers responded at approximately 8:18 p.m. on Sept. 10 to reports of a shooting at Treehouse Village Apartments, 125 SE 16th Ave. When officers arrived, they found Douglas lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not locate any suspects, but investigators recovered numerous shell casings and found a pickup truck parked near the pool area riddled with bullet holes.
What the video shows
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Douglas and another person arriving at the apartment complex in a pickup truck before parking near the pool. Douglas stepped out of the vehicle, and Showers approached him on foot. The two spoke for several minutes, according to the report.
As the conversation continued, Howard allegedly moved toward the pair from the side of the pool, attempting to remain concealed in the shadows. He was carrying what police described as a “rifle/ARP style” firearm and stopped behind a tree roughly 20 feet from Douglas and Showers, taking what the report characterized as “an obvious ambush position.”
Shortly after Howard arrived, Showers allegedly pulled a pistol from his waistband and rushed toward Douglas in what appeared to be an attempted robbery. Douglas pushed Showers away, and Showers dropped the weapon and lost his slides during the struggle.
Howard then allegedly fired numerous rounds at Douglas and his companion. Douglas was struck multiple times, while Showers was hit in the foot. Douglas ran beyond the camera’s view, and his companion exited the truck and fled a short distance. Showers took cover beneath a nearby vehicle, while Howard ran north, leaving his slides behind, the report states.
Evidence found at the scene
Investigators noted that Showers wore a distinctive jacket or hoodie with reflective trim across the chest, back and pockets. Howard was reportedly dressed in black-and-white Nike slides, white ankle socks, bright orange Nike shorts featuring a swoosh logo and a dark jacket or hoodie.
Police said they recovered two pairs of Nike slides—one from the area where Howard had been standing and another from where Showers had been. Detectives also found a yellow belt keychain containing a Bic lighter and key beneath the vehicle where Showers hid. Investigators later linked the item to a yellow belt keychain visible in a photograph posted to Showers’ Instagram account.
Blood was reportedly found under the vehicle where Showers hid. A Glock-style P80 “ghost gun” with a gun light attachment, extended magazine, and black grip wrap was found, and detectives later matched this gun to photos on Showers’ Instagram.
Douglas’ companion reportedly said he and Douglas went to Treehouse Village to sell a pistol to Showers, and Douglas had been communicating with Showers via Instagram to set up the meeting. Showers sent his location, which showed at the Treehouse Village pool, and Showers approached them on foot after they parked to start negotiating the transaction.
Douglas’ companion said Douglas became agitated with Showers and thought he was “playing” because the Cash App transaction did not go through; he said Showers lunged at Douglas and tried to grab either Douglas or the pistol Douglas intended to sell, and at the same time, he heard gunshots coming from the passenger side of the truck. He said the shooter was wearing orange shorts.
Detectives were familiar with Showers’ Instagram account and knew the account mentioned by Douglas’ companion belonged to Showers; they created a photo lineup with Showers’ photo, and Douglas’ companion reportedly identified Showers as the person who had met with Douglas.
A second witness reportedly told officers that they heard gunshots and then saw someone limping away northbound, saying, “Dear God, help me.”
While officers were still on the scene, Showers’ mother reportedly arrived and said she believed her son may have been involved in the incident and may have been shot, but she could not find him. Officers went to Showers’ father’s home, where they reviewed surveillance video that showed Showers leaving earlier in the evening, wearing a jacket/hoodie with a distinct trim around the pocket, matching the jacket/hoodie shown in the video from Treehouse Village during the shooting incident.
Locating Showers
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On September 11, GPD released a photo of Showers, asking the public for information about his location, and they learned that he was at an apartment at Sweetwater on 16th Avenue, directly east of Treehouse Village. Officers staked out the apartment, and a short time later, Showers came out, obviously limping; he reportedly had a plastic bag containing blood-soaked clothing and bandages at the time of his arrest. He was transported to a hospital, where officers confirmed that he had sustained a gunshot wound to his foot.
Additional video from Treehouse Village
Video surveillance at Treehouse Village also reportedly shows Howard entering the complex on foot at 6:42 p.m. on September 10, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, Nike slides, white ankle socks, and bright orange shorts with a Nike “swoosh” on the side.
Detectives reviewed recent contacts with Howard and found body-worn camera evidence that he was wearing the same bright orange shorts when he spoke with an officer in May about an issue with his ankle monitor.
Social media posting
Detectives found an Instagram post that appeared to name Howard as the shooter in the incident.
Search warrant
On September 16, a search warrant was executed at Howard’s residence, and officers reportedly found a pistol in his closet with a grip wrap that was similar to the one on the “ghost gun” found at the scene; one round of .223 caliber rifle ammunition; a pair of white ankle socks that were dirty on the bottom; and a black jacket/hoodie similar to the one worn by the shooter in the video from the shooting incident.
Howard was later found by the Florida Highway Patrol during a traffic stop and was taken into custody.
Howard’s charges
Howard has been charged with homicide while engaged in robbery, attempted armed robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by an adjudicated delinquent. He has multiple juvenile felony convictions between 2023 and 2025 and cannot legally possess a firearm until he is 24. Judge Susan Miller-Jones 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.
Showers’ charges
According to a release from GPD, Showers has been arrested and charged with homicide and is receiving medical treatment. He was a juvenile at the time of the homicide and turned 18 on September 12; no further information is currently available.