Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Rodricas Javon Young, 43, was arrested early this morning after allegedly shooting toward occupied buildings at Woodland Park (1900 SE 4th Street).

A Gainesville Police Department Officer in the area reportedly heard shots at about 12:43 a.m. and saw Young running through the complex. He reported that Young’s right arm was fully extended as the gunshots continued and that it looked like Young had a gun in his hand and was chasing someone else and shooting at that person.

The officer reported that he lost sight of Young, but a short time later, he saw a vehicle leaving the complex at a high rate of speed. Other officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, and the driver reportedly continued for about four blocks before pulling over. Young, who was the front seat passenger, allegedly ran from the vehicle, ignoring commands from officers.

A perimeter was established, and a K-9 team reportedly located Young.

Post Miranda, Young reportedly said the vehicle had picked him up at a gas station and that he was never at Woodland Park, but the officer noted that he saw the vehicle leaving the complex just before the traffic stop. Young reportedly said he ran from the vehicle and from officers because he knew he had warrants.

At the apartment complex, officers reportedly found a shell casing near Building I, where Young had been seen running. An impact from a bullet was reportedly found in the next building to the west.

A gunshot residue test of Young’s hand reportedly produced a presumptive positive result.

Young, who is described as a homeless Tampa resident in court documents, is on probation and was also arrested on a warrant for violating probation in a 2020 case out of Alachua County. He is a Violent Felony Offender of Special Concern who has 23 felony convictions (three violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (one violent). He has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2017. He is on probation and has an active felony warrant out of Hillsborough County for driving without a valid license, operating an unregistered vehicle, fleeing, and resisting an officer without violence.

Judge Thomas Jaworski ordered him held without bond for violating probation and set bail at $270,000 on the new charges.

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.