Four arrested on attempted homicide charges after allegedly shooting into downtown crowd

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Joseph J Cromwell III, 25, Austin Gregory Dow, 23, Akwan Naziek Sincir Osborne, 23, and Jeremiah Charles White, 23, all of Gainesville, were arrested early this morning after allegedly shooting into a crowd of hundreds of people in downtown Gainesville after the bars closed.

At 2:34 a.m. this morning, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers were clearing out the downtown area after the bars closed when the occupants of a passing silver Kia Soul reportedly fired approximately 15 shots into the crowd and in the direction of the officers. According to a statement from GPD, people in the crowd panicked and ran away, at least one vehicle was hit in the rear windshield, two officers had to duck for cover, and other officers immediately tried to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle drove away, and a pursuit was authorized.

Moments later, the Kia crashed at 3100 N. Main Street, and officers established a perimeter after the occupants fled. A GPD K-9 was able to find the four defendants and two firearms. No injuries were reported as a result of the gunshots, vehicle pursuit, or crash.

Cromwell has been charged with attempted first degree homicide, firing a weapon into a vehicle or building, firing a weapon from a vehicle, leaving the scene of a crash involving damage, and resisting arrest without violence. He has three prior felony convictions and was released from state prison on July 5, 2022, after serving a sentence of one year and one month for selling marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and obstructing justice. He is being held without bond.

Dow has been charged with attempted first degree homicide, firing a weapon into a vehicle or building, firing a weapon from a vehicle, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and resisting arrest without violence. Dow also has an open sworn complaint accusing him of attempted homicide on March 14, 2022. He has eight felony convictions in addition to a juvenile history. He has served two state prison terms and was last released from prison in December of 2021. He is being held without bond.

Osborne has been charged with attempted first degree homicide, firing a weapon from a vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and resisting arrest without violence. He has no criminal history, but charges of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and possessing an altered firearm were dropped last year. He is being held without bond.

White has been charged with attempted first degree homicide, firing a weapon into a vehicle or building, firing a weapon from a vehicle, and resisting arrest without violence. He has a juvenile history and has been convicted of 11 felonies as an adult. He was most recently sentenced to six months in county jail for violating probation in June of 2021. He is being held without bail.

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.