Homeless man arrested for threatening to kill boyfriend with rock

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Joseph Ryan, 71, was arrested last night for allegedly threatening to kill his long-time boyfriend with a rock.

At about 10:49 p.m. on August 16, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the Shell station at 3831 NW 13th Street, where the victim had reported the threat from Ryan.

The victim reportedly told the officer that he and Ryan had been in a dating relationship for 18 years, but there is also a “long history” of violence in their relationship. The victim said that while he was sitting near the gas station with two witnesses, Ryan walked up, and the victim was wary, but after they all started drinking alcoholic beverages, he thought everything would stay civil.

However, at some point, the victim reportedly told Ryan he wanted to end their dating relationship, and Ryan started yelling at the victim and then allegedly picked something up from the ground and said he was going to kill the victim. The victim said Ryan lifted his hand as if he were going to throw the object in his hand, so the victim ran inside the gas station to ask employees to call 911. The victim told the officer he was in fear for his life and believed Ryan would act on his threat.

One witness reportedly said Ryan started yelling after the victim said he wanted to break up, and then Ryan picked up a rock and said he would kill the victim. When the victim ran away, Ryan dropped the rock. This witness pointed to the rock, which the officer described as “a little larger than a softball.”

The second witness was reportedly difficult to understand but said he did not see anyone grab a rock or make any threats; however, as they spoke, he reportedly became less confident and said he didn’t recall anyone picking up a rock.

Post Miranda, Ryan reportedly denied that anything physical happened; he said he and the victim simply argued, and he said he never picked up a rock. He said the victim and the first witness were conspiring against him because they wanted him in jail.

Ryan, a designated Career Offender whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with domestic aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has 14 felony convictions (seven violent) and 13 misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served nine state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2024. He was most recently arrested on July 16 for domestic battery against the same victim as this case, but the charges were dropped on August 10, and he was released. Judge Joy Danne set bail at $10,000 on the new charge.

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.