Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a recent turn of events, 18-year-old Dewayne Libardo McAllister III from Cross City found himself behind bars. He faces serious charges after being apprehended on a warrant for armed robbery and grand theft of a pair of firearms. Authorities have additionally charged him with illegal firearm possession due to his history as a gang-affiliated adjudicated delinquent.
The incident unfolded on July 22, when deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department responded to an alarming report of armed robbery. The crime took place at a Holly Heights parking lot on the 700 block of SW 69th Street. Upon arrival, deputies conversed with two victims who recounted their experience. They had ventured to the location for what was supposed to be a simple firearm sale arranged over Facebook Marketplace.
The victims explained that they were corresponding with a buyer who went by the Facebook alias “Briskoo” and had agreed to purchase their firearm for $900. Upon reaching the designated spot, they texted “Briskoo” and were greeted by a Black male clad in a gray shirt and black shorts. As the male victim showcased the firearm, his female companion stayed inside their vehicle. Turning his back momentarily to the buyer to place his jacket inside the car, the male victim saw “Briskoo” suddenly holding his hands aloft as two masked individuals, dressed in black, emerged from behind a building. Alarmingly, one of these individuals brandished a gun and aimed it directly at them.
Meanwhile, the female victim, engrossed in her phone, remained unaware of the emerging threat until it was too late. The unarmed individual approached her car, slipping into the driver’s side and seizing a second firearm from the floorboard. Now armed, this individual joined the other robber in a swift escape from the scene.
The male victim said that at that point, “Briskoo” tucked the firearm he was supposed to be buying under his arm, pulled another firearm from his waistband, and racked the slide before fleeing in the same direction as the masked individuals.
Deputies were familiar with the “Briskoo” name and believed it was McAllister; the male victim positively identified McAllister in a photo lineup.
A detective reported that he believed McAllister had lured the victims to the area with the intention of robbing them and that he worked with two other individuals to commit the robbery.
McAllister has been charged with armed robbery, two counts of grand theft of a firearm, and possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent.
After McAllister was arrested for the armed robbery, another detective charged him with possession of a firearm by a gang-related adjudicated delinquent. That detective wrote that a .22 caliber American Tactical Outfitters GSG-16 carbine rifle was reported stolen in Dixie County on May 2, and that rifle was recovered on May 9 from a juvenile during an unsanctioned block party at Majestic Oaks. The detective noted that between the theft and the recovery, an “extremely distinct and unique red sport-syle tape” had been wrapped around the rifle’s barrel and pistol grip.
While reviewing social media accounts on May 12, the detective found a video of McAllister and a juvenile male, both holding firearms; McAllister was holding a rifle that was identical to the one recovered on May 9, including the red tape.
Post Miranda, McAllister reportedly identified himself as the person holding the stolen rifle; he denied stealing the rifle and claimed it was not actually stolen, vaguely referring to a “misunderstanding.” He said the juvenile had brought it to Alachua County, and he admitted that the video was taken at “Village Green” (3501 or 3101 NE 15th Street). He reportedly admitted that he knows he is prohibited from possessing firearms and also reportedly admitted to association with the “outwest” gang but denied being a member.
McAllister was charged with possession of a firearm by a gang-related adjudicated delinquent. The detective noted that McAllister is not being charged with stealing the rifle from Dixie County “at this time.”
McAllister’s juvenile history includes convictions or withheld adjudications for 14 juvenile felonies and two juvenile misdemeanors, most involving theft and burglary or attempted burglary of vehicles.
Judge James Colaw ordered him held without bond on the armed robbery charge and set bail at $250,000 on the remaining charges from the July 22 incident; Judge David Kreider added $150,000 bail for the firearm possession 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.