Man on probation arrested after allegedly threatening to kill everyone at his workplace

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lorne Rush Nero, 29, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly threatening to kill everyone at his workplace, including his father. Nero is on probation for reckless driving with serious injury and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Nero’s father reportedly told a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer that Nero had built a rifle by ordering online parts with no serial numbers; since Nero is not permitted to possess firearms or ammunition, he reportedly asked his father to keep the rifle and ammunition. Nero’s father told the police that about a week ago, he noticed that the rifle and ammunition were no longer where he had put them and said that Nero had broken into his home many times.

On Wednesday morning, Nero allegedly drove to his workplace at Precision Glass and sat outside in his truck, calling his father multiple times and threatening to kill his father, his father’s boss, and other employees at the business. He allegedly said he doesn’t miss, he’s a good shot, and that he didn’t care if he died while killing the others. After six calls over about 20 minutes, Nero reportedly drove away.

Nero then allegedly drove to his father’s house, took his father’s dog, and stabbed a large fixed-blade knife into the center of the dining room table before leaving.

GPD officers worked with Nero’s probation officer to contact Nero at his home in the 1900 block of NW 6th Street. Probation and parole officers conducted a warrantless search of Nero’s home and reportedly found 1800 rounds of .300 Blackout rounds, two AR-15-style rifles without serial numbers, numerous rifle magazines, equipment for fabricating lower rifle receivers, various firearm accessories, and miscellaneous ammunition. Officers also recovered Nero’s father’s dog.

Post Miranda, Nero reportedly said he may have had a box or two of ammunition mixed in with some items he’d retrieved from his father’s house; he said he had quit his job that morning before going to his father’s home. He reportedly denied having any firearms because as a felon, he is not allowed to have them. When he was told that officers had found a large amount of ammunition at his home, he reportedly admitted having firearms and said that his father had given him the firearms because he wanted him to be able to protect himself. He reportedly said he did not know the caliber of the rifles or ammunition.

Nero was arrested in July 2022 for driving over 100 mph on NW 13th Street on February 9, 2022, and hitting a car that was turning left onto NW 55th Place. The victim in the crash sustained serious injuries, some of which are permanent. A search of his vehicle produced a loaded Glock pistol and 135 rounds of ammunition.

Nero entered a plea of nolo contendere to charges of firearm possession and reckless driving and was adjudicated guilty of both and sentenced to 364 days in the Alachua County Jail, followed by 4 years of probation. He also paid $30,000 restitution to the victim.

Nero has been charged with aggravated stalking, unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, armed burglary of a dwelling, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has four felony convictions (one violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (one violent); this is his first probation violation. Judge Thomas Jaworski ordered him held without bond on the probation violation and set bail at $200,000 on the new charges. The State Attorney’s Office filed notice of intent to request pre-trial detention within three days.

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.