Man arrested for threatening to shoot family and neighbors with AK-style rifle after domestic dispute

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jareezz Jermois Lee Rivers, 24, was arrested yesterday and charged with domestic battery by strangulation, aggravated battery on a pregnant female, aggravated assault, and child abuse without great bodily harm after allegedly threatening to shoot family members and neighbors with an AK-style rifle after a domestic dispute.

The responding Gainesville Police Department Officer’s investigation found that at about 5:45 p.m. yesterday, Rivers and his girlfriend got into an argument that turned physical. The victim picked up a child and went downstairs to a neighboring apartment. Two neighbors reportedly went upstairs to get a 10-month-old child out of the apartment and try to calm Rivers down.

One of the neighbors reportedly told the officer that Rivers pushed him twice while he was holding the infant; after the neighbor gave the infant back to Rivers’ girlfriend, Rivers allegedly began pacing and then said, “I’m doing life today” and went to his gun safe, where he loaded and racked a rifle.

The neighbor reportedly told the officer that when he heard the gun being racked, he and the other neighbor ran out of the apartment, so they did not see the gun, but they know where Rivers keeps his guns and saw Rivers walking in that direction while saying he would kill everybody.

The officer reported that he found an AK-style rifle on the living room couch, next to two loaded magazines.

Post Miranda, Rivers reportedly declined to answer any questions.

Rivers has no local criminal history; he has a series of traffic citations in Marion County, along with a conviction for driving without a valid license. Judge Lorelie Brannan set bail at $25,000.

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.