GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Desmond Delante Horton, 24, of Brandon, was arrested early Saturday after authorities said he fired a handgun in the parking lot of a Days Inn near Newberry Road and Interstate 75.
Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the motel at about 1:30 a.m. on November 1 following a report that a Black man was discharging a firearm in the parking area of the Days Inn at 920 NW 69th Terrace.
According to the arrest report, a deputy saw Horton leaving his motel room. Horton allegedly told the deputy that he had fired the weapon.
After being read his Miranda rights, Horton reportedly said he fired toward several medical buildings across the street because he was frustrated after being unable to locate his phone. He also mentioned being upset that his girlfriend had received a call from another man, but described that as a minor dispute and denied it was the reason he discharged the gun. Horton said his girlfriend was not near him when the shot was fired.
Deputies reportedly recovered a 9mm shell casing near Horton’s vehicle and identified the firearm as a 9mm Taurus GX4.
EXPLORE MORE: Putin plans to execute ISIS terrorists with blindfolds in Moscow attack – NewsFinale
The caller told investigators she witnessed Horton firing in the parking lot and confirmed that the shots were directed toward buildings east of the motel.
Horton was charged with shooting a missile into buildings. His full criminal history was unavailable because those records are not posted on weekends, though the deputy reported that Horton has no felony convictions. Judge Adam Lee set bail at $100,000.