Man on probation in rape case charged with attempted murder

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gene Davon Hunt, 19, was arrested early this morning and charged with attempted first-degree homicide after his alleged involvement in a shooting related to a feud over a co-defendant’s former relationship with the victim. Hunt was on probation after pleading to a lesser charge following his arrest for the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

A Gainesville Police Department investigation found that Hunt, his co-defendant Naomi Stewart, and two unidentified individuals went to Canopy Apartments at about 2:20 p.m. on September 26, for the second day in a row, due to an ongoing feud between the shooting victim and Stewart. One person in the group allegedly shot at the victim when he stepped onto his balcony, hitting the railing in front of him and the door behind him. The four people then fled in a car that is reportedly registered to Hunt’s parents.

According to the sworn complaint, the victim and Stewart were previously involved in a romantic relationship and made YouTube videos together. The victim reportedly told police that he had recently blocked Stewart from messaging him “because of her erratic behavior” and because she was reportedly jealous that he had made videos with other female YouTubers.

The victim showed police a video that Stewart had posted the previous day, depicting Stewart battering the victim. The victim also showed police an Instagram account that had been messaging him about the incidents between him and Stewart. Police used facial recognition software to match the photos on that Instagram account with a previous mugshot of Hunt. Other photos on the account reportedly showed Hunt standing next to the vehicle that the group allegedly used to get away after the shooting.

Hunt also allegedly posted messages to his Instagram story about the victim, using the victim’s nickname and saying they were “finna do buddy In” and “we posted up on [the victim].”

After the shooting, Hunt reportedly posted a rap video referencing the shooting, again using the victim’s nickname; the video included video clips of the victim and references to Canopy Apartments.

A sworn complaint was filed against Stewart on September 27 for aggravated stalking and domestic battery. She also has a sworn complaint from August 30 accusing her of burglary and theft; the burglary charge was dropped, but formal charges were filed for theft. No documents are posted to the clerk of court’s website for either case.

Hunt was arrested in December 2021 and charged with raping a 14-year-old, but he entered a plea of nolo contendere to aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, a lesser included charge, and was sentenced to 36 months of probation by Judge William E. Davis, with adjudication of guilt withheld.

Hunt is being held on bail of $1 million.

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.