Gainesville man arrested for firearm possession after reporting the firearm stolen

Staff report

Updated on February 17: On February 13, the charge in this case was dropped because adjudication of guilt was withheld on the felony charge in Sheppard’s 2018 case, so he is not considered to be a convicted felon for the purposes of possessing a firearm.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Anterio Jaquez Sheppard, 26, was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after reporting the firearm stolen and telling a police officer that he routinely carried it and had customized it.

At about 1:50 a.m. on December 26, 2025, a Gainesville Police Department officer reported that Sheppard approached her in the 800 block of West University Avenue and stated that someone had punched him in the stomach and had taken his gun. Sheppard reportedly completed a sworn written statement stating that he had the firearm in his waistband when it was stolen from him during a fight.

The officer reported that Sheppard said he routinely carries the firearm and had purchased a custom grip and extended magazine for the pistol after his girlfriend bought him the firearm as a gift. He reportedly said he usually carries the gun with a full magazine of 22 rounds and one round ready in the chamber, for a total of 23 rounds. Sheppard also reportedly said the gun was in his waistband because he forgot his holster at home.

A witness reportedly said that Sheppard had the gun in his waistband before the robbery, and the officer reported that surveillance video from the location shows Sheppard with an item in his waistband, consistent with his statement that the firearm was in his waistband.

The officer filed a sworn complaint following the incident, and on January 30, a warrant for Sheppard’s arrest was issued by Judge Robert Groeb.

Sheppard has a felony conviction for burglary from a 2018 incident and is not allowed to possess firearms. He has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones 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.