Gainesville man arrested for brandishing gun in parking lot dispute

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tyrus Kishon Malik Bryant, 22, was arrested early this morning on a warrant for allegedly brandishing a gun in a parking lot dispute at Tiger Bay Apartments on Friday afternoon.

A Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a call at about 1:45 p.m. on February 24 from employees of the apartment complex who reported seeing an altercation between Bryant and the occupants of a red Tesla after the car Bryant was riding in nearly hit the Tesla. A verbal argument reportedly escalated until Bryant got out of the car brandishing a handgun in a threatening manner.

Although witnesses did not know Bryant’s name, they said he is known to visit a resident in the apartment complex, and they took pictures of him and the car he had arrived in, including the tag; officers spoke with the owner of the car, who reportedly recalled a “road rage incident” with a red Tesla at the apartment complex because she was driving the wrong way in the parking lot. She reportedly denied having any men with her in the car at the time and said she did not see anyone with a gun. Officers reported that based on their Facebook pages, the car’s owner and Bryant are in a dating relationship.

Bryant has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and improperly exhibiting a firearm. He has five felony convictions and at least six misdemeanor convictions; he has served two state prison sentences on battery charges and was most recently released in August 2022. Bail information is unavailable on weekends, but the arrest warrant recommends bond of $100,000.

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.