Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Deshawn Lamar Russ, 35, was arrested yesterday and charged with firing a gun inside a car and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that at about 7:45 p.m. on August 3, Russ was in a car driven by the victim when Russ said he would kill the victim and then kill himself; at the time, Russ was “actively in possession of a firearm.” Russ allegedly fired a round directly in front of the victim’s face, leaving a bullet hole in the front driver’s side window.

Post Miranda, Russ reportedly changed his story several times. He said at first that the victim was driving before the incident, but later said he had been driving part of the time; he originally said he didn’t know anything about a gun or a gunshot. He reportedly said later that he heard something that sounded like a firecracker after he got out of the car but did not think anything of it. He also reportedly said at one point that he was inside the car when the gun went off and later said he knew there was a gun in the car, but it was not his gun.

Russ also reportedly said that the victim had pulled the gun from under her seat and was waving it around, and he might have grabbed the firearm, causing it to fire.

Two witnesses told the officer that after Russ and the victim arrived at their destination, Russ said, “I did not mean to do it. It was an accident,” and “I did not mean to fire the gun.” He was also reportedly overheard talking about accidentally firing the gun.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a bullet in Russ’s pocket. As a convicted felon, he is not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition.

Russ has been charged with domestic aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. He has nine felony convictions (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in June 2024. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $900,000, with a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. if he is released.

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.