GPD investigating two shootings in large downtown gatherings; ASO also responded to large gatherings in Jonesville

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gainesville Police Department (GPD) is investigating two separate downtown shootings, with three people shot, that happened in the early morning hours of Monday, April 10, and Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies also responded to large numbers of cars that gathered in parking lots in Jonesville

One victim was shot in the area of 100 S. Main Street in Gainesville, and two people were shot in the area of 100 W. University Avenue; all three victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries. GPD does not believe that the shootings were related.

GPD officers were patrolling downtown in response to large crowds and ran toward the gunfire. In the subsequent chaos, a fourth victim was hit by a vehicle as people fled the area. That victim also sustained a non-life-threatening injury, and officers do not believe that person was involved in the shootings.

The GPD Investigations Bureau is currently investigating leads, interviewing witnesses, and filtering through all of the reports and statements. GPD issued the following statement: “We praise our officers and investigators that responded to these calls last night along with community members that assisted us in the investigation on scene and afterward.  We ask that anyone with information on either of the shootings please call our Criminal Investigations Bureau at 352-393-7700.”

Large crowds in Jonesville

Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies also responded to crowds in Jonesville last night. At about 7:20 p.m., calls were received about cars filling the parking lot of the Circle K; deputies asked the Circle K to shut down and directed traffic out of the parking lot. However, the cars simply moved over to other parking lots along Newberry Road; as deputies directed them out of one parking lot, they moved down to the next one. The area was reportedly clear by 9:20 p.m.

“Peaceful Sundays”

It is not unusual for large crowds to gather on Sundays in Gainesville, and the crowds on Easter tend to be larger than other Sundays. Last year, GPD released video of several incidents on Easter. This year, GPD brought in at least a dozen overtime officers in anticipation of large crowds.

While showing the video to the City Commission on May 5, 2022, Chief Lonnie Scott said, “It’s bedlam… the primary reason we show you that is just to show you that when I tell you that we’re getting to the point where we may not be able to control all the crowds, this is the evidence of it… I’ve never seen it at this level… A large part of that is we’re not just dealing with Gainesville folks; we’re dealing with people from all over the area.”

Scott told the commission, “Gainesville, quite frankly, has become the regional hub for folks in and around this area to come drink and hang out. They come here from as far south as Miami… We asked them why are you coming here from Palatka… and they said we can’t do this in Palatka. And that seemed to be a resounding theme to a lot of the folks coming here, that they can’t do what they do here in Palatka… They can’t drink openly in the parking lots like they do here. And that’s become a serious issue with us… In all candor, there’s only so much we can do with the limited personnel that we have.”

The Gainesville City Commission has discussed reinstating an ordinance prohibiting open containers on public property to give GPD a tool for responding to the crowds, but the most recent discussion about open containers ended in a stalemate.

Chief Scott told the City Commission on March 2, 2023, “For us, it just doesn’t seem to be a smart thing to mix people in cars, sitting in parking lots, and sitting on the side of a roadway with alcohol.” 

During general public comment in the June 7, 2021, City Commission Meeting, Armando Grundy-Gomes referred to these events “that were supposed to be peaceful on the weekends that have been a problem in our neighborhoods, especially within District 1. It seems to be known now as ‘shoot-‘em-up Sundays.'”

On April 6, 2023, the City Commission discussed adding more restrictions to the “Peaceful Sundays” events, such as requiring permits; Alachua Chronicle will have an upcoming story about that discussion. The events, which are usually held at T.B. McPherson Park, were “grandfathered” in and have not been subject to the requirements placed on other events held at City parks. Yesterday’s “Peaceful Sunday” event was reportedly moved to Jonesville Park, which may be related to the issues in Jonesville parking lots yesterday evening. Deputies did not report any incidents at Jonesville Park.