Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Aakel Jabari Sims, 26, was arrested last night and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery, battery, burglary of an occupied vehicle, and theft after allegedly threatening one victim with a gun and hitting another victim with the gun.

A Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the parking lot of the Walmart at 1800 NE 12th Avenue at about 7:07 p.m. last night, where the female victim had been sitting in a car while the male victim went into the store to shop. The female victim said she heard a knock on the driver’s side car window and saw Sims, who she knew. She said she rolled down her window and Sims said, “I told you I was going to catch up with you” and hit her in the face with an open hand. She called the male victim, who was still in the store, and she said that while she was on the phone, Sims lifted his shirt and showed her a gun in his waistband. She said Sims reached into her car and tried to take the keys out of the ignition.

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The male victim said that when he came out of the store, he saw Sims leaning into the car. When he ran toward the car, Sims allegedly pulled out the gun and loaded a round into the chamber. The male victim said he told Sims there was no need for the gun, but when he looked away for a second, Sims hit him in the head with the gun. He said he and Sims began wrestling for the gun and that he took it from Sims and then dropped the magazine.

Post Miranda, Sims declined to speak with the officer. He has no criminal history; Judge Walter Green set bail at $34,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.