Gainesville man charged with two counts of attempted murder in September 2024 shooting at Lewis Place

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Drayon Drevell Duncan, 21, was arrested on May 2 and charged with two counts of attempted homicide after he was identified as the suspected shooter in an incident at Lewis Place Apartments on September 29, 2024.

At about 11:15 p.m. on September 29, 2024, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to Lewis Place Apartments (4121 NE 15th Street), where callers had reported numerous shots fired. Officers found “dozens” of spent casings in .223 and 9mm calibers around NE 15th Street, which borders the west side of Lewis Place. “Numerous” bullets had hit multiple occupied apartments, including the apartment of the two victims. However, nobody was struck by a bullet during the incident, although one of the victims was taking his trash out at the time of the shooting.

Text and voice messages obtained via a search warrant reportedly showed that Duncan and the two victims had been communicating for several days before and after the shooting, including threats that Duncan would harm one of the victims. Duncan reportedly told the victims he had a firearm with a “switch” that converts it to fully automatic operation. Detectives also reportedly located “numerous” videos showing Duncan holding switch-enabled pistols and a rifle in the fall of 2024.

On the night of the shooting, one of the victims reportedly told Duncan he was at Lewis Place, and Duncan reportedly sent messages to the victims about five minutes after the shooting, taunting them. Over the next few days, Duncan reportedly stated clearly to the victims that he was responsible for shooting at them from a vehicle; the messages also correctly identified the weapons used in the incident (a “big draco” rifle and “switches”).

Duncan is reportedly a self-proclaimed member of the “Village Green” gang, and the messages between Duncan and the victims reportedly included comments made by one of the victims that “openly disrespected numerous dead gang members.” The victims reportedly claim association with “The South,” which is a rival to the “Village Green” gang.

Duncan has been charged with two counts of premeditated attempted homicide, firing a weapon into a building, firing a weapon from a vehicle, and firing a machine gun. He has no criminal history.

Duncan is being held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

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.