Gainesville man arrested for firearm possession after Midtown shooting
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kenneth Ellis Wetherington, 59, was arrested last night and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after officers searched his apartment following a call about shots fired in the Midtown area.
At about 10:15 p.m. on November 21, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 100 block of NW 9th Terrace; witnesses said shots had been fired from the parking lot of the building at 102 NW 9th Terrace. One witness said Wetherington was seen arguing with an unknown male and the argument escalated until Wetherington fired a pistol.
Officers made contact with Wetherington at his apartment in the building where the shots were reported, and a witness said Wetherington had admitted that he had a gun during the argument and had fired several shots. Three .40 S&W Federal shell casings were reportedly found in the parking lot.
While Wetherington was in custody, an officer reported that a conversation between Wetherington and a witness was captured on a body-worn camera; during the conversation, the witness mentioned a search warrant for Wetherington’s apartment, and Wetherington reportedly said, “Hopefully, they don’t find anything.”
A search warrant for Wetherington’s apartment was obtained, and officers reportedly found a handgun loaded with six .40 S&W Federal rounds that matched the shell casings recovered outside.
An additional loaded magazine for the handgun was also reportedly found, along with a broken shotgun, 28 rounds of .40 S&W Federal ammunition, and 26 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.
Wetherington has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the most recent court document from 2019, he has 11 felony convictions (one violent) and 14 misdemeanor convictions; he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2014. Judge Robert Groeb set bail at $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.
Here we have a 59-year-old juvenile delinquent that has never learned how to behave.
He was found to be in possession of a firearm once before. Judge Robert Groeb sentenced him to a couple of months. Groeb is the judge in this current case. Let’s see if he can do his job this time.
That pocket behind the Checkers is frequently troubled. Do the Colliers own property there? Is that company owned by lawyers?
Quote “According to the most recent court document from 2019, he has 11 felony convictions (one violent) and 14 misdemeanor convictions; he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2014.”
Back to the big house for you.