Man on probation arrested for threatening to shoot woman and her unborn baby

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Zion Motheus Ward, 23, was arrested yesterday for allegedly sending a text to a former girlfriend, threatening to shoot her and her unborn baby.

On August 8, Ward allegedly sent a series of text messages to the woman, including one that said, “ima shoot you and yo baby.” The woman said this caused her to fear for her life and the life of her unborn baby because Ward has been violent in the past and has the means to carry out the threat.

Ward has been charged with making a written threat to kill and was also booked on a warrant for violating probation.

In September 2024, Ward was arrested for domestic battery and false imprisonment; the false imprisonment charge was dropped, adjudication of guilt was withheld on the domestic battery charge after he entered a plea of nolo contendere, and he was sentenced to one year of probation by Judge William Davis. In August 2025, Ward asked Judge Davis to terminate his probation early, but later that month, the victim in that case reported to Ward’s probation officer that Ward had had hostile contact with her in July and had stolen money from her. A warrant for his arrest was issued on September 4, and he was arrested in Orlando on September 15, but according to his attorney, he was released when he “was not picked up by Alachua.”

Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.