Gainesville man arrested for threatening to kill girlfriend’s roommate

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Terrence Demar Smith, 40, was arrested yesterday and charged with threatening to kill his girlfriend’s roommate; he was also booked on a warrant from a 2022 incident in which he allegedly choked and stomped on a girlfriend.

On the evening of January 24, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Gainesville Place Apartments (2800 SW 35th Place), where the victim said her roommate’s boyfriend had threatened to kill her and had access to a gun.

The officer reported that the victim has three roommates, and Smith has been living with his girlfriend, one of the roommates, for about two years; the victim has complained several times to the leasing office that Smith has made threats to her and is not on the lease, but the leasing office staff reportedly told her to report the incidents to the police.

The officer reported that the victim had gone to the leasing office earlier in the day to complain again that Smith was living at the apartment but was not on the lease, and when she returned, Smith and his girlfriend reportedly argued with her; Smith allegedly said, “I’m going to shoot you in the face, spit on your, and get people to beat you up.” When the victim turned to leave the apartment, Smith allegedly said they would be waiting when she returned.

The officer reported that the victim was aware that there was a gun in Smith’s bedroom, and Smith was about 10-15 feet from his bedroom when he made the alleged threats.

Smith’s girlfriend reportedly denied that Smith made any threats toward the victim and said she owned a firearm that was kept in various locations in her bedroom and bathroom; when asked whether Smith, a convicted felon, knew she had a firearm, his girlfriend reportedly said she “didn’t know” and “would not answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.'” Smith’s girlfriend also reportedly said she did not not know whether Smith’s DNA would be found on the gun.

Post Miranda, Smith reportedly denied making any threats toward the victim and said he just told her to “please keep his name out of her mouth.” He reportedly admitted to knowing that his girlfriend had a gun and said she’d had it since September 2025, but he later said he didn’t know anything about the gun.

The officer noted that Smith had been using the apartment’s address as his primary address for over two years, so it was “unlikely that [Smith] was unaware a firearm was located inside the residence.”

Smith’s girlfriend reportedly gave consent to the officer to retrieve the firearm, and a pistol was found in a drawer, next to a loaded magazine.

Smith has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and simple assault; he was also booked on a 2023 warrant for allegedly choking and stomping on a girlfriend in September 2022. He has at least eight felony convictions (one violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (two violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2014. Judge Susanne Wilson Bullard set bail at $105,000 on the new charges and $25,000 on the charge from the 2022 incident.

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.