‘A hellacious gun battle’: City officials thank first responders, assure citizens that they’re safe
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – During a press conference today following the officer-involved shooting of a man who is suspected of killing an individual in a nearby business before shooting at police officers in what Gainesville Police Department Chief Nelson Moya described as “a hellacious gun battle,” officials called the incident “an anomaly” and assured residents of the area that they are safe.
Recap of the incident
Chief Moya said that at 7:56 a.m., officers responded to a 911 call about a shot fired on East University Avenue, and three officers who were already in the area responded almost immediately; he said the officers identified a man driving a red car as a suspect and followed him in marked patrol cars. Moya said, “Immediately, the subject stopped his vehicle and absolutely assaulted our officers and met them with gunfire in an ambush-style attack. Our officers, by the grace of God, were able to engage the suspect in a violent exchange of gunfire, resulting in the death of the assailant, who passed on scene.”
Moya said the scene was chaotic, in the middle of rush-hour traffic on a busy road, but first responders quickly attended to the two officers who were shot and took them to a hospital.
Moya said, “Information we had received took us to a nearby business, a lumber yard, where the initial suspect was seen entering.” A person found deceased inside the business had also been shot, and Moya said he believes the deceased subject parked at 1300 East University Avenue, behind the KFC, walked over to the lumber yard, engaged the victim inside, killed the victim, walked back to his car, and was met by officers as he attempted to flee the area.
Moya said one officer was wounded “in the lower extremity” and the other “in the upper extremity,” but both are awake and expected to recover fully.
Moya thanked the responding officers “for their heroism and their actions,” the public for their patience, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for investigating the officer-involved shooting, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for handling other calls for service, University of Florida Police Department for their help and resources, and the FBI and ATF for their assistance “as we continue to battle all that is gun-related violence.” He emphasized that he was “proud of our officers today, of our employees,… both sworn and civilian.”
Moya concluded his initial statement by saying, “The message that I continue, and we continue, to say in this community is, we continue to battle gun-related violence by any means necessary. And again, this should showcase that this community and this department is not only trained, but ready for anybody who wants to challenge that.”
Suspect not identified
Moya said that officers are still notifying the families of the deceased and researching the background of the suspect, so he was not ready yet to identify the suspect. He said, however, “We do know that there was clear intention… Based on what we know, the assailant acted today with clear intent.”
Gun violence has dropped dramatically: “This is an anomaly.”
Moya emphasized that gun violence has dropped dramatically over the past two years, with an 11% drop between 2023 and 2024 and another 16% drop in 2025: “This is an anomaly. This is something that can’t be tolerated in our community, and we will continue to battle it, as we have for the last two years, with many leaders and many stakeholders doing their part to keep gun violence well under control.”
“We’re safe… The community is not in danger at this point”
Moya’s message to residents in the area was, “We’re safe… The community is not in danger at this point of anything related to this incident.” He encouraged residents to continue to go about their business and “enjoy your life, because we have your back, and we appreciate your continued support of our organization.”
Moya said he didn’t know yet which officer shot the suspect, “but we do know that there was a hellacious gun battle.”
City Manager expresses gratitude to the officers
Gainesville City Manager Andrew Persons said he was “incredibly thankful for the bravery of the officers who responded,… and I’m glad that… we’re [not] talking about a different scenario with officers more seriously hurt… I’m just proud of the officers that responded, proud of the men and women that work for law enforcement agencies here in town.”
Mayor: “We want to reassure everyone that we’re okay. It’s going to be okay.”
Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward expressed his condolences “not only to the folks who have experienced loss of life, the families of those folks, and to those injured, but also to the surrounding neighborhoods.” He also mentioned the drop in homicides between 2023 and 2025 and added, “This is certainly not the way we want to start the year, but as the Chief mentioned, this is an anomaly, and the most important thing I can tell folks who are in the surrounding neighborhoods is, you are safe. This is not an ongoing situation. This was an anomaly.” Ward said he had visited both officers in the hospital and appreciated everyone who responded to the scene. He concluded, “We want to reassure everyone that we’re okay. It’s going to be okay. Certainly, we’ll all be thinking and praying on this and doing everything that we can to… make sure that we do not experience this again.”
City Commissioner Duncan-Walker: “I have full confidence that we are going to continue to address gun violence in meaningful, effective, impactful ways”
District 1 City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker also thanked everyone who responded to the incident and added, “I want the individuals in District 1 to hear a very clear message that not only states that you are safe, but that the Gainesville City Commission will continue to bring resources to bear to ensure that safety as we move forward.” She said the City would “continue in the spirit of recognizing that gun violence is a public health issue, that those resources will continue to be brought to bear.”
Duncan-Walker said, “This is an isolated case. District 1 will continue to grow stronger, and I have full confidence that we are going to continue to address gun violence in meaningful, effective, impactful ways, and that this will just continue to be one of those things that will not become the norm… The City is 100% on top of things.”
For additional reporting on this incident, see these articles:
Not “gun violence.” No such thing. That’s made up nonsense for brain-dead people named Giffords or Kelly.
Anyone interested in locating a business on the Eastside? The City commission is willing to subsidize your failure and….taxpayers get (have to) to help too.
I hope the gun was arrested, charged, and jailed
It is unfortunate that this idiot took another human life. Thank God no officers lives were lost. Local law enforcement demonstrates superior bravery when faced with danger.
That location is on the same block as a city beautification intersection. How could this happen?
This was a weird random shooting in the middle of rush hour. I was taking kids to school and about to pass the cop on the right as he had a car stopped in the left turn lane the suspect vehicle. Heard half a dozen shots and saw a guy running and cars all stopped in all directions. Was able to bust a u turn into the walgreens and yell and a couple bicyclists to get off sidewalk and go the other way. Never saw so many GPD come flying at least 10 cars right by me headed to scene followed by the swat vehicle. It was nuts but at least they stopped this active shooter. Nightmare scenario for that time of day with all the kids in the area going to school through there.
Thanks GPD job well done
Did anyone catch any of the live press conference with the GPD chief, Mayor Ward and District 1 Desmon Duncan-Walker. WTF was that? Moya saying this is an anomaly nothing like this ever ever ever ever ever happens in district 1 east side of Gainesville this is a completely safe area no matter what you see in the news .All the gun violence programs and our save a hood kid programs have worked. Ward expressed his condolences to those experiencing lose of life? WTF is that suppose to mean? Gee who were the only ones experiencing losing of life expect for the suspects and their families. Good thing Wards got his orioties straight Ward said this isnt the type thing that happens on University Ave. Maybe he means West University Ave in the 3700 block but where he’s at in the 1000s block you’re safer in Gaza and of course Ward says you’re perfectly safe it’s an “anomaly” Desmon Duncan Walker said “gun violence is a public health issue” WTF is she talking about. if I don’t get my gun violence from Shands am I at risk for catching the Gun Flu that’s going around and she said this is an isolated case. nothing bad ever happens in the 1000’s on East University Ave so move along nothing to see. and of course Walker said she “would be remiss if you didn’t acknowledge everyone who last someone today” WTF is she talking about lets see who lost someone today the suspects families and the “alleged victim of ths suspect shot by GPD” lets get this clear whoever the “victims is they’re not really a victim they were just too slow on the draw today or otherwise the roles would be reversed and they would be suspect. These no “REAL PEOPLE” involved in this incidence expect for the GPD Officers who got shot the fact that 2 Eastside Superstars died this morning is just a win win for the rest of society it’s like a BOGO free. because I am sure when the 2 names are posted if you goto FLDOC they’re going have a picture on there and if they don’t it’s only because of the 8th Judicial circuit SAO and Alachua County/City of Gainesville practicing “catch and release on save a hood kid programs” at least the city manager acknowledged the Police were OK and pride of them OK Ward couldn’t thank the Police directly express any concern for them but he did at least mention his concerns for those injured after mentioning those who died at least Ward did go to the Hospital. But Desmon Duncan Walker didn’t it must have been a real personal conflict for her because her blackness prevented her from showing support for the police because the 2 other people who died were black so she had to focus on them 1st. You know District 1 priorities.
Not defending those GNV City Comm morons, but the shooter had shot and killed someone in “the lumber yard” ,,,,not sure which lumber yard that is but it is near the KFC. I do have a question for liberals….. if the shooter had committed gun violence, did GPD also commit gun violence when they shot and killed him? This “Gun Violence” narrative is nonsense because liberals hate personal responsibility and accountability.
Unlike you, the Mayor is required in his normal duties to comment on important city events – good and bad – and I think most of us hope you don’t comment in the future. You’re compulsive crapping on the city is not more important than a real tragic event.
FYI, an innocent person was killed by the shooter, so Ward’s condolences were appropriate. As to “gun violence is a public health issue”:
“For third straight year, firearms killed more children and teens, ages 1 to 17, than any other cause including car crashes and cancer.”
For you geniuses doing this math counting fingers, no other country in the developed world has this problem nor do they have the numbers of guns we have.
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/guns-remain-leading-cause-of-death-for-children-and-teens
Sheep 🐑 Alert ‼️
Mayor: “We want to reassure everyone that we’re okay. It’s going to be okay.”
It was a very strange reaction from Ward, that’s for sure
You can see the gears were turning in Ward’s head as he stood there thinking ‘ why couldn’t they just shoot the gun out of his hand’? and the soon to come ‘How can I not let this crisis go to waste’?
Duncan-Walker & Ward made it for the photo op.
Where were the violence disruptors? Good thing for the community; the person committing the violence is dead.
Contrary to what Commissioner Duncan-Walker says, gun violence is not a public health issue. It doesn’t need to be dealt with by the City Commission but instead by LAW ENFORCEMENT! Aggressive enforcement of the law, especially by targeting known offenders and dealing with problem locations with additional enforcement is what makes gun crimes go down. Not liberal talking points.
And anyone who believes that “The City is 100% on top of things” doesn’t read the news.
Duncan-Walker, Ward, and Moya are all full of it. Telling a lie over and over doesn’t make it the truth. I live in District 1, not far from where this happened, and I can tell you, this is not an isolated incident nor an anomaly. This kind of crap happens over here all the freaking time. If the Alachua Chronicle created a map just based on the stories they’ve covered, I wonder what percentage of shootings happened in District 1? I think we all can guess — that is if you don’t have your head up your a$$ or live under a rock.
We would be safe if violent criminals were kept in prison and not released to harm more people. Liberals have done extensive damage to the legal system.