Roommates on probation arrested after armed dispute
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Michael Deangelo Clayton, 39, and Devonn Antwan Denard Sowell, 37, were arrested on firearm charges last night after an armed dispute; Clayton was also charged with trafficking in cocaine.
At about 6:20 p.m. on July 3, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a residence in Carol Estates South, where Clayton said he and Sowell have been friends for about 20 years and are sharing an apartment. He said they got into a physical fight after Sowell accused him of smoking his marijuana, and Clayton was winning, so Sowell left in a black Dodge Charger. Clayton said he gathered his belongings and walked downstairs to separate himself from the situation, but Sowell returned a short time later, pulled out a gun, and racked the slide three or four times, ejecting live ammunition; he then left again in the Charger.
Clayton reportedly told the officer that the marijuana was his and he has a medical marijuana card.
Post Miranda, Clayton reportedly admitted that he had a gun in his pocket during this initial encounter, but he never took it out.
However, Clayton reportedly said that after Sowell left the second time, he continued gathering his belongings, and Sowell came back again and pointed the gun at him. He said he turned to go back upstairs, but Sowell, knowing he had a gun in the apartment, said, “Don’t go back inside, I’ll do it to you,” and pointed the gun at him again. Clayton said that, fearing for his safety, he pulled his own gun and fired three rounds in Sowell’s direction because he “wasn’t going to take any more chances” after Sowell previously racked the slide. He said Sowell fired multiple rounds at him before leaving again in the Charger, and Clayton left on foot and took shelter at a nearby residence.
Officers found Sowell driving the Charger and detained him; they reported that a handgun could be seen in plain view in the center console.
Post Miranda, Sowell reportedly said he and Clayton had gotten into a physical fight in their apartment, and he was losing the fight, so he left the apartment with a friend, went to a convenience store, and came back. He said he saw Clayton outside and confronted him, and when Clayton turned to go back into the apartment, Clayton turned around and fired multiple rounds at him.
A witness reportedly said he heard several people arguing and then saw Sowell standing at the bottom of the stairs, firing multiple rounds up the stairs.
Another witness said Clayton fired at Sowell in self-defense.
Officers reportedly found multiple bullet impacts traveling upward through several steps of the staircase, along with a spent projectile at the top of the stairs and a live round at the bottom of the stairs, all indicating that the rounds had been fired from the lower end of the stairs. One spent casing was reportedly found at the top of the stairs, indicating that a firearm was also discharged from the upper end of the stairs.
Clayton’s firearm was reportedly not found, but a search of a vehicle reportedly produced about 49.2 grams of crack cocaine, and post Miranda, Clayton reportedly admitted that the crack cocaine belonged to him.
Sowell has been charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, for pointing his firearm at Clayton, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has six felony convictions (two violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served one state prison sentence, was released in September 2025, and is currently on probation. 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.
Clayton has been charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has 13 felony convictions (one violent) and 15 misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and has served five state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2024. Judge Ramsey set bail at $300,000.
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.