Gainesville woman arrested after allegedly brandishing a gun at a 7-year-old at Sweetwater Square

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lashawn Denise Strickland, 31, was arrested yesterday after allegedly brandishing a gun at a seven-year-old at Sweetwater Square Apartments.

At about 6:14 p.m. on February 4, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Sweetwater Square (3501 NE 15th Street), where Strickland had reportedly been arguing with the child in front of Strickland’s relatives’ apartment. The child told the officer that Strickland brandished a firearm at him because he had confronted other children in the neighborhood for “jumping his younger brother.” The child reportedly told the officer that when he saw the gun, he told his younger brother to run and then he ran.

Post Miranda, Strickland reportedly said she had been arguing with the child because he had made threatening statements to children in the neighborhood; however, she said the child never made any physically threatening gestures toward anyone. She reportedly admitted pulling up her shirt to show the victim her gun and telling him she would “do it if you’re bad,” but she said she never pulled out the gun or pointed it at anyone.

The officer reported that surveillance video showed Strickland holding a firearm in her hand and brandishing it. A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a concealed loaded 9mm pistol.

Strickland has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She has no criminal convictions, but charges of aggravated assault from 2017 and property damage from 2019 were later dropped. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $25,000 with the condition that she observe a curfew between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.; she is also prohibited from any contact with minors but is permitted to take her children to school as long as she avoids making contact with other children. The State Attorney’s office filed notice that they intend to file a motion for pre-trial detention without bail until trial, but Judge Rawls declined to hold Strickland until that hearing.

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.