Ocala man arrested for threatening to shoot man at his business

Staff report

Updated on June 17 with bail information.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dedan Justin Haynes, 23, of Ocala, was arrested yesterday for allegedly threatening to kill a business owner while pointing a gun at him.

At about 11:30 a.m. on June 9, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to the 1800 block of NE 23rd Avenue, where the victim said Haynes came to his business to tell him to stay away from Haynes’s girlfriend, who was formerly married to the victim. The victim said Haynes pulled a gun during the argument and said he would kill the victim if he didn’t leave his girlfriend and her children alone.

A witness reportedly said she saw the argument and heard Haynes say he would kill the victim, so she quickly walked away.

Another witness reportedly saw Haynes get into his vehicle while Haynes and the victim were yelling at each other; he said he heard Haynes yell that he had a gun and would kill the victim before Haynes drove away.

Haynes was reportedly found at his girlfriend’s house and was positively identified by the victim.

Post Miranda, Haynes reportedly admitted that he had displayed his gun, but he said he only pointed it at the ground while he backed away from the victim; he initially denied saying he would kill the victim, but when the officer confronted him with the witness accounts, he reportedly said they “had words,” but he had no intention of killing the victim.

The gun was reportedly found inside the house where Haynes was arrested.

Haynes has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has no criminal convictions, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial. On June 17, Judge Denise Ferrero denied the motion and 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.