Jacksonville man arrested after Gainesville shooting sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for possession of ammunition

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – DeShawn Russ, 36, of Jacksonville, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. 

U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “Keeping this violent, serial felon off our streets and locked away behind bars is necessary to protect our communities from his continued criminality. I am grateful for the excellent investigative work by the Gainesville Police Department, with support from our federal law enforcement partners, that facilitated this successful prosecution by my office.”

Original arrest

On August 3, 2025, a Gainesville Police Department officer reported that Russ was in a car driven by the victim when Russ said he would kill the victim and then kill himself; at the time, Russ was “actively in possession of a firearm.” Russ allegedly fired a round directly in front of the victim’s face, leaving a bullet hole in the front driver’s side window. Although no firearm was recovered, a .380 bullet was located in his pocket. Russ is multi-time convicted felon, and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. At sentencing, the Court found that the defendant shot the firearm and then engaged in obstruction by encouraging witnesses to change their statements. 

“Time and again, convicted felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition continue to place our community at risk,” said Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya. “We are grateful for the thorough work of our investigators and our federal partners in holding him accountable for his actions.”

The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.