Pair arrested after shooting in east Gainesville

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gwennesha Marrkenya Demps, 32, and Rahim Arthur Henderson, 50, were arrested yesterday after a man said Henderson shot at him because Demps wanted him to give her money. Henderson has been charged with attempted homicide, and Demps has been charged with armed robbery, along with other charges.

A Gainesville Police Department officer reported that Demps and the victim met up on September 13 with the intention of combining their money to buy drugs; however, they were unable to purchase drugs, and they got into an argument about the money. The victim told the officer he tried to walk away from Demps, but she followed him for about 10 blocks, telling him to give her the money; he said he refused to give her the money because it was his.

At one point, Demps allegedly picked up a small stick (a “switch”) and hit the victim in the face with it; the officer reported that the victim’s injuries were consistent with being hit with a small stick.

The victim still refused to give Demps the money and kept walking away from her. The victim said Demps called Henderson, her boyfriend, and told him where they were; when the victim told Demps to get away from him, she reportedly said Henderson was on his way and would “take care of it.”

Henderson reportedly arrived when the victim and Demps were on NE 1st Avenue between NE 15th Street and NE 16th Street, and video surveillance reportedly shows Henderson walking into the roadway, about two feet in front of Demps and the victim. Henderson tells the victim to stop, and then a muzzle flash can be seen, and a single gunshot can be heard on the video. The victim said Henderson shot at him but missed.

The victim said he immediately ran away, in fear for his life, and had to call 911 from a convenience store because he did not have a phone. The victim was able to identify Henderson and knew where he lived, and officers went to Henderson’s residence, called him out over a public address system, and took him into custody. Demps, who was also in the residence, reportedly refused to come out after “numerous” instructions but was eventually arrested.

Post Miranda, Demps reportedly said she met up with the victim so they could combine their money to buy drugs, but after they were unable to buy drugs, she wanted her money back, and the victim refused to give her the money. She reportedly admitted to following him and hitting him with a “switch,” and she admitted to calling Henderson to come get her money back. She said she was at the scene when Henderson confronted the victim, but she said she looked away when the gun fired.

Post Miranda, Henderson reportedly did not want to speak to an officer.

An officer wrote that it was clear that Demps believed the victim had taken her money, and she called Henderson to come get it back; he wrote that Henderson threatened the victim with a gun in an attempt to get the money back and then shot at the victim.

A pistol was reportedly found in plain view on the driver’s seat of a car parked in front of Henderson’s house; although the car is registered to a family member, Demps reportedly said Henderson normally drives the car.

Demps has been charged with armed robbery, simple battery, and resisting an officer without violence. She has one felony conviction (non-violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (one violent). Judge Lua Lepianka ordered her held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold her without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Henderson has been charged with attempted first-degree homicide, attempted armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has 20 felony convictions (two violent) and 13 misdemeanor convictions (one violent), and he is facing a sworn complaint for resisting an officer without violence on August 21. He has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2017. Judge Lua Lepianka 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.