Man arrested after allegedly pointing gun at woman and smashing her phone

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Javon Lemand Coney, 25, was arrested last night and charged with robbery by sudden snatching, aggravated assault, and possession of a concealed firearm without a permit.

The victim told a Gainesville Police Department officer that she was sitting in a friend’s parked car by herself when Coney and a friend pulled up in a car, then Coney tapped her window with a pistol. The victim, who knew Coney, said she cracked open the door to see what he wanted because she didn’t want to cause a scene in her friend’s car. The victim said Coney yanked open the door and snatched her phone from her hand, then smashed it on the driveway. She told the officer she was able to get her phone back after a struggle, then she got back in the car and drove to a store.

The victim said that she saw Coney and his friend following her, so she stopped by Coney’s house to ask why he broke her phone. She reportedly told the officer that when she was 10 feet away from Coney, he pointed his gun at her with a green laser sight and threatened to shoot her. She said she left in fear that he would shoot her.

The officer reported that the victim’s phone was “completely demolished.”

Post Miranda, Coney reportedly said he had been trying to contact the victim about money she owes him, but she blocked him. He initially said he never went to her friend’s house but later admitted that he went to the house to get his money back.

Coney has a juvenile history and one adult misdemeanor conviction. He was arrested in 2018 with 39 grams of marijuana and initially charged with felony possession, but he was formally charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of possession of drug equipment, with adjudication of guilt withheld and payment of court costs. He was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon without a permit in 2018, but that charge was dropped.

Judge Bo Bayer set bail at $75,000.

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.