Gainesville man charged in yesterday’s shooting said he “shot him low” because he didn’t want to kill him
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Frank Anthony Hargitt, 62, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated battery after reportedly admitting that he shot a man but didn’t intend to kill him.
Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 3200 block of SW 26th Way yesterday at about 1:20 p.m. and found a victim with a gunshot wound in his buttock. The victim’s injuries were reported to be non-life-threatening.
A witness told officers that he heard one gunshot, ran outside, and saw Hargitt standing over the victim with a gun. The witness said Hargitt told him he didn’t intend to kill the victim but he was tired of being harassed.
Another witness said Hargitt had left the house to go to the store, but he came back after about seven minutes, said “I shot him,” and put the gun on the couch.
Post Miranda, Hargitt reportedly said, “I didn’t want to kill him so I shot him low.” He said the victim had been standing on his front porch and had lunged at him; he then armed himself with a gun, chased the victim around the corner of the house, and shot him.
Hargitt has no felony convictions and one misdemeanor conviction (violent) from 1996. Judge Thomas Jaworski 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.
Moral of the story, “Don’t go harassing someone if you don’t like getting shot in the buttocks.”
That’s somethin’ else mama always told me.
Young thugs in this city with 5 or 6 felonies already by the age of 25 get $10,000 bond. But here we have a longtime member of the community with almost no criminal record- who sounds like he fired in self-defense- and he gets a $250,000 bond. See anything wrong with this picture??
Forest Gump Rump shot. Classic.
I feel like I pay my taxes and my dues just leave me the f*** alone. Point blank if I’m not messing with you there’s no reason to harass me
And I’ll do whatever it takes to defend me in my life. Point blank it is called self-defense
Exactly this man got tired of being harassed shot this punk admitted didn’t want to kill him stayed until the police came hardly no record get arrested and get a $250,000 bond….WTF!!! Just like the other comment these punks got rap sheets as long as your arm get right back out!!!! This is B@#$S&*T!!!
Only thugs and convicted felons that get caught with guns get low bonds here in Gainesville. 😢
I thought FL was “stand your ground”? I’m confused! Is this right? The owner of the home, admitted to legally shooting a a person on his property who was threatening him with bodily harm & he’s in jail?
Oh boy! When he gets a good lawyer…
No stand your ground because he shot him while the person was fleeing, no longer self defense.
That’s why you should leave ppl alone🤷🏿♂️
Isn’t he doing what Uncle Joe said the police need to do. Shoot them in the leg instead of the chest. He just shot a little high and got him in the butt. Come on man, give the guy a break he was just doing what Brandon advised to do.