Arrest made in downtown homicide

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Gainesville Police Department (GPD) has announced the arrest of Demetrius Aponcedeleon Hardy, Jr., 19, on charges of murder and attempted murder in the shooting that occurred at 100 NW 1st Street in the early morning hours of Friday, March 6. Hardy is also being charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Hardy has previous convictions of firing a weapon from a vehicle, possession of a weapon by a delinquent, attempted burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, felony battery, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He was released from his most recent stay in jail on February 2, 2020.

Members of the US Marshall Fugitive Task Force located Hardy and took him into custody. He was transported to GPD for further investigation and subsequently transported to the Alachua County Jail.

GPD Detectives are still actively investigating this case, including following up on leads and collecting and evaluating evidence. We are asking any members of the public who have any knowledge or know of evidence related to this to contact the Alachua County Crime Stoppers at 352-372-7867, www.stopcrime.tv, or Detective J. Castor at 352-872-2101.