Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have arrested 21-year-old Shammari Dewayne Russell Tolbert in connection with an incident that occurred late last October, during which he allegedly threatened two women with a firearm.

The incident unfolded on October 30 at approximately 5:25 a.m. at Gardenia Gardens, located at 1725 NE 8th Avenue. According to police reports, Tolbert was inside the first woman’s apartment, helping care for her infant. The woman recounted to a Gainesville Police Department officer that Tolbert forcibly entered her locked room while she was with her baby, shouting aggressively. Fearing for her safety, she fled to a nearby apartment for assistance, leaving the infant behind.

Both women returned to the apartment and demanded that Tolbert hand over the child. It was at this point, they claim, that Tolbert emerged with a handgun and allegedly aimed it at them. The second woman promptly contacted the police, while Tolbert reportedly retreated back inside the apartment and secured the door. Both women expressed their fear to officers, saying they believed Tolbert might kill them when he brandished the weapon.

Police received a detailed description of the firearm, which matched a gun that Tolbert had apparently showcased in an Instagram post approximately 15 hours earlier.

At the time the sworn complaint was written, Tolbert was still inside the apartment with the baby. He is facing a second sworn complaint for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of armed burglary, and two counts of child abuse without great bodily harm, but the sworn complaint has not been uploaded to the court’s website.

Tolbert has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has no criminal convictions. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.