In Gainesville, Florida, a troubling incident over the weekend led to the arrest of 22-year-old Lorenzo Joshua Johnson Jr. on charges of carjacking and domestic battery. The arrest followed a series of events where Johnson allegedly assaulted a woman, seized her car, and physically harmed her.

The unsettling events began on the afternoon of January 3 at Bellamay Grand Apartments on SW 75th Street. Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched in response to a triggered panic alarm. Upon arrival, they discovered a chaotic scene outside the victim’s apartment, with blood and damaged belongings scattered about. Witnesses recounted seeing a violent altercation between a man and a woman before the pair drove off in a black Kia. Disturbingly, witnesses also reported that the woman appeared to be spitting blood as she hurried away from the scene.

Amidst the ongoing investigation at the apartment complex, Gainesville Police received a report about a stolen vehicle from the Wawa on SW Archer Road. The description of the vehicle and the individuals involved matched those from the Bellamay Grand altercation. However, the Kia and the caller had already departed the scene by the time officers arrived.

Authorities later interviewed the victim, who detailed the harrowing sequence of events. She explained that while preparing to leave her apartment, Johnson became agitated when she needed more time to get ready. His anger allegedly escalated into physical violence, as he repeatedly punched her in the face. In a desperate attempt to escape, she fled her apartment, keys hidden in her waistband. Johnson allegedly pursued her, continuing to strike her, before forcibly taking the keys and heading for her car. Fearing for her safety and the potential theft of her vehicle, the woman jumped into the front passenger seat. According to her account, Johnson drove recklessly, intensifying her desire to exit the vehicle and escape the dangerous situation.

Deputies later spoke with the victim, who reportedly said she and Johnson were getting ready to leave her apartment when she said she needed to get ready; she said Johnson became upset and punched her multiple times in the face. She said she ran out of her apartment with her keys tucked in her waistband, but Johnson caught up to her, hit her several more times, took the keys from her waistband, and ran to her vehicle. She said she was afraid Johnson would steal her vehicle and crash it, so she jumped into the front passenger seat; she said Johnson was driving recklessly, which made her want to get out of the vehicle.

The victim said that when the vehicle slowed down at one point, she tried to open the car door, but Johnson grabbed her around the neck and choked her, impeding her breathing.

The car eventually became stuck in traffic near the Wawa, and the victim said she got out of the vehicle and called 911 to report her vehicle as stolen; she said Johnson came back and offered to let her drive if she would take him to a family member’s home, and she agreed. She said she drove to a different residence and ran from the vehicle with her keys; she said Johnson left the area on foot, and she eventually drove herself back to her apartment.

Deputies tried to find Johnson on Saturday, but they were not successful, and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

On Sunday, January 4, deputies located Johnson driving a white Toyota Camry northbound on I-75 near mile marker 384. Deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop, and Johnson reportedly complied with their lawful commands and was arrested.

Johnson has been charged with unarmed carjacking, domestic battery by strangulation, and domestic battery with a prior battery conviction. He is a designated Violent Felony Offender of Special Concern who has six felony convictions (two violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (violent); he has served one four-year state prison sentence and was released in November 2025. He is on probation until November 2027 for two Alachua County cases.

Judge Meshon Rawls initially ordered him held without bail on the carjacking and strangulation charges, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial, but the State Attorney’s office later notified a judge that they do not intend to seek pre-trial detention. Bail has not yet been set on those charges, but Judge Rawls set bail at $100,000 on the domestic battery charge.

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.