GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jonathan Manuel Galindo-Vega, 20, was arrested after he allegedly pointed a firearm at a panhandler and threatened to shoot him, according to police.
A Gainesville Police Department officer was called to the intersection of SW 35th Boulevard and SW Archer Road at approximately 10:08 p.m. on October 10. The victim told police he had been panhandling in the median when a man in a vehicle began arguing with him. The man allegedly pulled a pistol from the vehicle’s center console, aimed it at the victim and threatened to shoot. The victim said he feared the gun could be fired intentionally or accidentally.
The victim reportedly gave officers a detailed description of the suspect and vehicle, including its license plate number. Police stopped Galindo-Vega’s vehicle a short time later and allegedly found a loaded Glock in the center console.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Galindo-Vega denied pointing the weapon at anyone. He told investigators the panhandler had made several threatening remarks, including, “I’ve been to prison,” “I can fight,” and “I can shoot.” Galindo-Vega said he never saw the man with a firearm or other weapon. However, the responding officer noted that Galindo-Vega did not raise his window or leave the intersection after those statements were allegedly made.
Galindo-Vega reportedly said he was confident the panhandler never actually saw a gun. He suggested, however, that the man may have assumed he was armed after Galindo-Vega said, “Who doesn’t own a gun in Florida?” during the confrontation.
During a second interview after receiving his Miranda warning, Galindo-Vega reportedly acknowledged taking the gun from the center console and “waving it to his lap.” He continued to deny aiming it at the victim.
A passenger in Galindo-Vega’s vehicle reportedly told police that he argued with the panhandler after the man called her names. She said Galindo-Vega pulled out the firearm and placed it along the open window’s edge, pointed in the victim’s direction.
Galindo-Vega was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has no local adult criminal record, and Judge James Colaw set his bail at $1,000.