ALACHUA, Fla. – Eric Gerard Vinson Jr., 29, was arrested yesterday after allegedly firing a handgun at two people during a November 5 confrontation at the Sherwood Oaks Apartments.
An Alachua Police Department officer responded to a report of a gunshot at Sherwood Oaks Apartments, located at 13605 NW CR 235, and knocked on the door of Vinson’s apartment. A female witness answered and appeared to have marks on her face and difficulty maintaining her balance. She told the officer Vinson was inside, but he remained in a rear bedroom until the officer cleared the apartment. Vinson then emerged with facial injuries and red marks on his back.
Vinson and the witness reportedly told police that two men—later identified as the victims—had come to the apartment with a gun and a baseball bat. Both said the second victim struck Vinson with the bat. They also claimed the first victim was carrying a gun that discharged when he threw water at Vinson.
The two victims were detained shortly afterward. In separate accounts, they told officers that the second victim had been near Vinson’s apartment when he saw Vinson making gang signs. According to the victims, Vinson threatened the second victim, pressed a pistol against his side and threatened to shoot him. The second victim returned to his own apartment and told the first victim what had occurred. The two men then went back near Vinson’s apartment, although they said they did not approach the front door. The second victim acknowledged that he was carrying a baseball bat.
The victims said the female witness met them roughly 50 feet from the apartment entrance and warned them to stay away. As they spoke, Vinson reportedly came outside and walked toward them.
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The victims told police that Vinson attempted to strike the first victim with a firearm that was in his front jacket pocket. The second victim then threw water in Vinson’s face, pushed him to the ground and hit him. Vinson allegedly fired one shot from the ground, prompting the second victim to strike him with the baseball bat because he feared Vinson would shoot.
Vinson reportedly lost his grip on the firearm. The female witness tried to seize it, and someone kicked the gun away. The first victim picked it up and fled with it before later telling police where they could recover the weapon.
The APD asked residents to provide any video of the incident, and investigators received footage showing the entire confrontation. The responding officer said the video closely matched the victims’ accounts. The officer also concluded that Vinson was the initial aggressor. The gunshot is visible in the recording, with the bullet passing “in very close proximity” to the second victim.
Vinson faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His criminal record includes two felony convictions, including one violent offense, and 10 misdemeanor convictions, two of them violent. He has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2024. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $190,000.