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Hawthorne man sentenced to five years in prison for Southwest Downtown Parking Garage shooting incident

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ny’trell Eugene Perry, 23, has been sentenced to five years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation, after pleading nolo contendere to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon during an incident that resulted in the shooting death of Michael Reed, Jr., on May 1, 2022, at the Southwest Downtown Parking Garage.

Perry was part of a group of four men from Hawthorne and Gainesville who became involved in an altercation with four Ocala men in the parking garage. He was carrying a Glock 19 with a 30-round extended magazine and swung it at one of the Ocala men, at which point the gun fired and hit the wall behind the Ocala man. Perry’s gun malfunctioned at that point, and although he attempted to shoot the Ocala man, who had also pulled out a gun, the gun would not fire. The Ocala man shot at Perry, but his bullet hit Reed in the chest, and Reed later died. Perry ran from the parking garage without rendering aid to Reed or telling the other members of the group that Reed had been shot.

Perry was originally charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony, but only the aggravated battery charge was officially filed. Perry posted $50,000 bail and was released.

On April 25, Perry entered a plea of nolo contendere to the charge (which has a maximum sentence of 15 years) in exchange for 5 years in state prison and 10 years of probation, and Judge James Colaw sentenced him yesterday.

  • Don’t think I’ll be frequenting any of the fine downtown dinning establishments while the gangbangers are getting slaps on their wrist for shooting people.

  • Five years for breaking gun laws and violence resulting in death? Let me guess; SA Kramer (no jail on my watch) and which violence and gun law violators judge did this to the local law abiding public?

  • When he gets out he should go to Poe’s house and ask about the free money.

  • Where is the gun now? What was the source? Obtained legally or illegally? We’ll never get a handle on gun violence until the cops and SA tell us where these guns originate from and if anyone is held accountable.

    • Although it is possible that Perry: 1) Went to a licensed dealer. 2) Filled out the forms (Federal law) 3) Paid for and passed an FBI background check (law) 4) Waited three days to receive his newly-purchased 500+ dollar pistol. 5) Jumped through the fingerprint, application, NRA safety training, fee hoops to carry the weapon (law)….he likely was carrying a stolen firearm (against many laws). Now….tell me again how more laws will stop gun violence…

      • The only time they get a just sentence is when the feds intervene.

  • Loss of confidence in the efficacy of law enforcement is fertile soil for vigilantism.

  • Perry had a legal gun permit to carry a concealed weapon (Per other reports). The other man (from ocala) did not have a gun and was initially charged but dropped charges. Still no one charged with murder! RIPMR!

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