GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Zachery Keith Turner III, 21, is facing an additional charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury after authorities say he struck another vehicle while pursuing an SUV connected to an alleged break-in at his car.
The confrontation began around 6:50 p.m. October 19, when Latese Williams and another person went to Turner’s workplace to question him about stereo equipment and jewelry they believed he had taken from Williams’ late husband. After Turner left, the pair allegedly found his unattended vehicle and entered it in an attempt to recover the items. Turner then allegedly confronted them with a rifle. The two drove away in a white SUV, with Turner reportedly following them in a black SUV.
Click here to read our earlier report on the full incident. Williams was also charged with burglary of an unoccupied vehicle.
Two witnesses later told a Gainesville Police Department officer they were driving south on the 1600 block of NE Waldo Road when they saw a white SUV moving erratically, followed closely by a black SUV. According to the witnesses, both vehicles continued south on Waldo Road before turning east onto NE 12th Avenue.
The witnesses continued toward the intersection of NE Waldo Road and NE 8th Avenue and were preparing to make a right turn when the white SUV cut in front of them. The driver said she feared the black SUV would collide with her vehicle, so she pulled into the parking lot at 806 NE Waldo Road. She told police that the black SUV then struck the right rear quarter panel of their vehicle and fled.
The witnesses said the black SUV’s driver did not stop, exchange information or provide assistance. The driver of the struck vehicle reported neck pain, while a second occupant said he was sore after the collision.
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Authorities identified Turner as the driver of the black SUV after he lost control and crashed into the front yard of a home at 516 NE 8th Avenue.
The witnesses said they went to the crash location, photographed the black SUV and confirmed to officers that it was the same vehicle involved in the earlier collision.
Turner now faces the new charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury. His other charges include two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for allegedly striking the victims’ vehicle, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly pointing a gun at the victims, two counts of battery on law enforcement officers and resisting an officer with violence. Turner also has a 2022 juvenile conviction and remains on pretrial release from a June arrest in which he was accused of taking a sound system from a parked vehicle. In addition, he is facing a Notice to Appear for allegedly shoplifting $101 worth of clothing from Walmart in May. In a letter to Judge Robert Groeb regarding the June case, Turner asked for leniency, acknowledged making poor choices and wrote that he was trying to get his life “moving in the right direction… If you decide to give me leniency, I promise I won’t waste it.”
Judge Adam Lee set bail at $25,000 on the new charge. Bail on Turner’s other charges had previously been set at $225,000.