Gainesville man arrested for shooting gun inside home

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – George Glenn Cockhren, 58, was arrested early this morning and charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a violent career criminal after allegedly firing a revolver inside his home.

The victim told a Gainesville Police Department Officer that she and Cockhren were engaged in a verbal argument when she turned to leave the room and Cockhren discharged one round from what the victim described as a “rusty” handgun. The victim said she was in fear that Cockhren would hurt or kill her.

Post Miranda, Cockhren allegedly said he never had a gun or fired a gun. He reportedly said he lit a firecracker outside to scare the victim. The officer asked if he could watch video footage from Cockhren’s exterior house cameras, and Cockhren reportedly consented. The officer reported that a video captured shortly before the victim called 911 showed Cockhren in the backyard with something in his hand that looked like a small handgun. The video reportedly showed Cockhren bending down as if he were burying the item in his hand. The officer asked Cockhren what was in his hand, and Cockhren reportedly said there was nothing in his hand.

Two officers went into the backyard and reportedly found a revolver buried next to a clothesline post. The revolver reportedly had one discharged round in the cylinder and four other rounds that had not been fired.

In a further interview, Cockhren reportedly admitted burying the handgun and said he was trying to hide it because the victim was calling 911 and he knew he was not supposed to have firearms.

Officers were unable to locate any bullet impacts inside the residence.

Cockhren has two felony convictions; Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $250,000.

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.