Juvenile charged as adult in threatened shooting

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Horace Edward Hicks III, 17, has been formally charged as an adult in connection with a case in which four people said he pointed a gun at them and threatened to shoot them.

According to the police report, 24-year-old Danielle Mourning Star Miller drove to a house on February 6, where Miller allegedly burst in and demanded to talk to a resident’s son, who she said had “beat her up” the day before. The resident told Miller to leave and that her son was not there. Miller then left the house and allegedly returned 20 minutes later with Hicks.

When they returned to the house, Miller allegedly got out of the vehicle and began to argue with a second person who was outside the residence. Hicks then allegedly got out of the vehicle wearing a ski mask and went around to the back of the house. When he heard Miller arguing, he came back toward the front.

At the same time, the resident who had initially spoken with Miller came outside with a third person to investigate the commotion. A fourth person came out of her house across the street and joined them in the yard of the residence.

Hicks then allegedly pulled a pistol from his waistband and lifted the ski mask off his face, allowing all the victims to see his face. He allegedly lifted the gun, pointed it at all the victims, and yelled, “What y’all wanna do?” Miller and Hicks then got back in the vehicle. As Miller drove away, Hicks allegedly pointed the gun out the window and continued to yell at the victims.

All four victims reported that they were in fear for their lives, and the resident of the home said she was afraid to stay at her house because Miller and Hicks might come back.

Later in the day, Miller’s vehicle was seen on a License Plate Reader, and a Gainesville Police Department officer arrested both Miller and Hicks. The officer reported that 24.3 grams of marijuana and two handguns, both with a round chambered, were found in the vehicle.

Post Miranda, both initially denied any involvement in the aggravated assault. Hicks reportedly eventually admitted to going to the residence and to putting on a ski mask. The officer reported that Hicks was still wearing the ski mask on his head while being questioned. He also reportedly admitted to displaying a gun in front of the victims but denied pointing it at anyone.

Miller reportedly admitted to the first visit to the victim’s house and to driving Hicks back to the house.

Miller has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and is being held on $120,000 bail.

Hicks, who has a juvenile history and another pending juvenile felony, has been formally charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and one count of possession of a firearm by a juvenile who was previously convicted of an act that would be a felony if committed by an adult. He is being held on $150,000 bail. He was moved to the adult jail on February 19; a motion to reduce his bond was denied by Judge Phillip Pena on March 2.

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.