Gainesville woman arrested for shooting at boyfriend

Update on September 3, 2024: all charges in this case were later dropped.

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Autumn Jayne Brooks, 37, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly shooting at her boyfriend.

The victim told the responding Gainesville Police Department officer that Brooks had pulled out a handgun during an argument and had fired two or three shots in the 3300 block of SW 23rd Street at about 9 a.m. on July 4. He said she took his phone and got into her car, waving a gun around and yelling at him. He said that when he saw the gun, he got in his own car and heard a “pop”; when he looked up, he saw Brooks holding the gun. He said she drove away in her car and took his phone with her.

A witness who lives near the couple said she heard arguing and then heard a vehicle horn, followed by three “pops” that sounded like gunshots. She said she saw a white vehicle quickly drive away from the area.

A friend who arrived with Brooks reportedly said that Brooks and the victim had argued, and the victim pushed Brooks to the ground and took her keys; he said Brooks told him to get in her car, and they drove away. He said he never saw Brooks with a gun.

The deputy reported that one 9mm shell casing was found at the location of the alleged shooting.

Post Miranda, Brooks reportedly said the victim had asked her to meet up with him that morning, and when she arrived, the victim argued with her and started trying to take her keys; she said he also took her cell phone and pushed her to the ground. She said her friend distracted the victim, allowing her to get in her car and leave the area with her friend. She said the victim followed her and tried to run her off the road. She reportedly admitted that she had the victim’s phone, but she said she didn’t take it and also said it was at an unknown location. She said the victim took her cell phone. She reportedly said that she owns a gun but didn’t have a gun during the incident.

Brooks was later arrested by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy at the Save A Lot in Archer.

Brooks has no criminal history but has a history of dropped battery and child abuse charges going back to 2008. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered her held without bond pending a hearing on a motion by the State Attorney’s Office to hold her 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.