Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities apprehended Antonio Dimitri Bryant, 30, on suspicion of an armed robbery that took place outside a Steak ‘n Shake location back in April.
The victim recounted to a Gainesville Police Department officer that, around 12:21 a.m. on April 12, while heading to his car during a shift at the Steak ‘n Shake on 1610 SW 13th Street, he was confronted by an unknown individual. This person requested to borrow the victim’s phone and, upon receiving it, brandished a firearm from his waistband. He then demanded the victim’s Cashapp code. After complying, the victim reported that the assailant fled southwards toward Momoyaki, taking the phone with him.
In the aftermath of the incident, the victim noticed a colleague’s car parked at Momoyaki. Observing the vehicle speed away shortly after the robbery, he suspected that the robber had used this car to escape the scene.
The colleague, identified as Deonte Ronell Small Sr., 31, was taken into custody on April 16. He faces charges including armed robbery, grand theft, and utilizing a two-way communication device to commit a felony. The victim mentioned that he and Small had exchanged messages earlier in the night about meeting up at Steak ‘n Shake for a smoke, though no specific time had been set.
The victim said that right after the robbery, a single $2,300 transaction was made from his Cashapp account to an account that he identified as Small’s account.
Officers established a perimeter around Steak ‘n Shake and searched the area, including using a K-9 team, but they did not locate the man. Law enforcement requested pings of the victim’s phone, and there was only one ping at 12:28 a.m., in an area near the tower at 2316 SW Archer Road.
An officer reported that surveillance cameras near Momoyaki did not show anyone on foot around the time of the robbery, which supported the victim’s belief that the man left the area in a vehicle.
An officer confirmed that Small drives a vehicle that matches the description provided by the victim, and traffic cameras reportedly showed that vehicle in the area of SW 16th Avenue and SW 13th Street (near Steak ‘n Shake) at 12:26 a.m. and then at SW 16th Avenue and Shealy Drive (near the tower at SW Archer Road) at 12:28 a.m.
On April 14, the officer spoke with a manager at Steak ‘n Shake and learned that Small had last worked on April 11, and he did not show up for work for his scheduled shifts on April 12 and April 13, which the manager said was unusual for Small.
The officer obtained messages from Small to another Steak ‘n Shake employee in which Small claimed that his cell phone was stolen along with the victim’s cell phone while they were together at Steak ‘n Shake. The victim reportedly was adamant that he was alone at the time of the robbery.
The officer made contact with Small on April 16, and post Miranda, Small reportedly confirmed that he had been in the Momoyaki parking lot at the time of the robbery, that the Cashapp account that received the victim’s money was his, and that he was texting with the victim a few hours before the robbery about meeting; he also reportedly said he had driven a man named “Toni” to and from the location of the robbery and that “Toni” had robbed the victim.
In a second interview with Small’s lawyer present, Small reportedly admitted to planning the robbery with “Toni,” whose real name is Antonio; he said Antonio had a real firearm, and he said he had needed money and had decided to rob the victim because he believed the victim had money. Small reportedly said he had driven Antonio back to Colonial Oaks, where he lives.
After a detective developed Bryant as a suspect, Small reportedly positively identified him as the man who had robbed the victim.
Post Miranda, Bryant reportedly confirmed he was with Small on the night of the robbery and that Small had driven him to Small’s residence, which is near Steak ‘n Shake, and then back to Colonial Oaks.
Bryant has been charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft, and use of a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony. He has four felony convictions (non-violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); he is on probation after serving a year in jail for charges in a 2024 case. Judge Julie Johnson set bail at $200,000.
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