Share and Follow
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 21-year-old named Jaylen Marquis Williams found himself in custody following accusations of shoving a minor. The incident escalated as Williams allegedly returned from his home wielding a knife, threatening the young individual with the words, “I’m going to hit you.”
The confrontation began around 6:30 p.m. on May 20. The juvenile was assisting his sister with her bicycle near the Williams Recreation Center when Williams reportedly confronted and shoved him. In response, the victim fled towards the basketball courts, seeking protection behind a group of three bystanders.
According to reports, Williams retreated to his home only to return shortly after, brandishing a small knife with a black handle. He allegedly repeated his threat, “I’m going to hit you,” before discarding the weapon and returning to his residence.
Witnesses corroborated the victim’s account, stating they observed Williams knocking the victim down and then later approaching with a knife in hand, repeating his ominous threat before leaving the scene.
The officer reportedly recovered the knife.
Post Miranda, Williams reportedly said he and the victim were friends, and they got into an argument over the bicycle; he said he got “angry” at the victim, so he went back to his residence, grabbed the knife, and walked over to the victim with the knife in his hand. He said he did not say anything to the victim while holding the knife, and he didn’t know why he grabbed the knife.
Williams has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and child abuse without great bodily harm. In 2023, he was charged with battery on a detention officer after allegedly spitting on a detention officer at the Alachua County Jail; he was eventually found incompetent to proceed in that case and was released on his own recognizance. In his order, Judge David Kreider wrote that Williams suffered from an intellectual disability and was “non-restorable to competence”; Williams did not meet the criteria for commitment to a treatment facility of the Department of Children and Families.
Judge Adam Lee set bail at $50,000.
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.