GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Devon Tyre Guthrie, 22, was arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot two 8-year-old boys.
At approximately 2:47 p.m. on November 12, an Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy responded to the Tower Oaks area in the 6900 block of SW 21st Lane. The mother of one of the boys told deputies that her son and another 8-year-old were playing outside their apartment when she heard a disturbance and looked out the window.
The woman said she saw a man wearing a red shirt with a pistol tucked into the front of his pants. The man, later identified as Guthrie, was speaking with the boys. When she went outside, both children reportedly told her that Guthrie had threatened to shoot them. They said they had been playing with a ball when Guthrie warned that he would shoot them if they hit him with it, then displayed the pistol.
The woman told deputies she wanted to pursue charges. The deputy also contacted the other boy’s mother, who likewise requested prosecution. Both children reportedly said they feared Guthrie would shoot them.
Deputies found Guthrie a short time later and conducted a felony traffic stop. He reportedly had a pistol in his waistband. A deputy noted that Guthrie is not a convicted felon, meaning he was not charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
After being read his Miranda rights, Guthrie reportedly denied threatening the boys. He said instead that he had encouraged them to hit one of the other people he was walking with.
Guthrie’s listed address is in Alabama. He declined to tell Justice Support Services how long he had been in the area or whether he was employed. He faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Guthrie also has a 2022 juvenile conviction. Judge Adam Lee set bail at $100,000.