Gainesville man arrested for pointing AR-15 at juveniles outside store

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jacquez Deante Sherman, 26, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly pointing an AR-15 at a group of juveniles outside Gainesville Supermarket.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the Gainesville Supermarket (7114 W. University Ave.) at about 5:47 p.m. on Monday, where the 15-year-old victim, who is related to Sherman, said he and his friends had been riding their bicycles to Gainesville Supermarket when Sherman pulled up next to them with his arm hanging out of the window and a pistol in his hand. The victim said Sherman told his friends in an intimidating manner, “Hanging around [the victim] is going to get y’all killed.”

The victim said the group continued to the store, and a few minutes later, Sherman pulled up in front of the store and confronted the juveniles. The victim said Sherman went back to his vehicle, opened the trunk, and took out an AR-15 rifle, then walked back to the group with the rifle in his hands and said, “What do y’all want to do?” The victim said he and his friends believed they could be shot and were in fear for their lives.

Post Miranda, Sherman reportedly said that when he saw the victim and his friends in front of the store, he got out of his vehicle and continued his earlier argument with them. He said he went back to his vehicle to get the rifle because he wanted to teach the victim “a lesson that he can’t be running around and doing things that could get him in trouble.” He reportedly said he knew what he did was wrong, but he wanted to teach the victim a lesson.

Sherman has no criminal history; he is currently facing a misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended license in March 2024. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $150,000 and ordered a mental health evaluation.

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.