Suspect still at large after shooting at Zaxby’s employees, ASO deputies

Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A suspect is still at large following an armed robbery at Zaxby’s on Main Street last night despite assistance from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO) and Alachua Police Department (APD) K-9 teams during the search.
At about 9:10 p.m. last night, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a call about an armed robbery and shooting at the Zaxby’s at 1 NW 10th Avenue. The victims and witnesses told officers that a suspect entered the restaurant and pointed a handgun at multiple employees, then fired at the employees before taking money and fleeing.
An ASO K-9 team responded to track the suspect; during the track, the Combined Communications Center received a call about a person walking around carrying a handgun. The ASO K-9 team went to the area indicated by the caller and located the suspect, who reportedly fired at deputies after being given verbal commands to stop; the suspect then fled. An APD K-9 team responded and joined the effort to track the suspect.
Fortunately, nobody was injured in the incident.
As of this writing, the suspect has not been located. The suspect was last seen wearing black pants and a black hoodie, along with a black and white face covering.
Any member of the community with information regarding this incident is asked to please call 352-955-1818, remain anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers at 352-372-7867, or submit a tip online at www.stopcrime.tv.
In a media release, GPD thanked ASO and APD for their quick response and assistance.
Good God, our city is an all out war zone!
You can thank the voters who voted or not for the Democrat politicians who have run the city for the last 20 years. You are seeing the results of winning with less than 10% of the eligible voters selecting the no prosecute prosecutor, judges who give light sentences and city commissions who welcome the grifters, dopers and mentally ill to GNV. They also are responsible for the current 100+ shortage of police officers, both by defunding and not supporting GPD.
A few days before, a block away Popeyes Chicken had a deranged man throwing bricks through the window and threatening employees and police with a machete. I work in that area so this is all very disconcerting.
So…now we have a shooting (murder) at Checkers on University Ave and McDonalds on 13th street. Anyone want to get a bite to eat near downtown?
Lol you’ve only mentioned 2 shootings in last couple months, we’ve had over a dozen
If the suspect is a repeat offender and/or social caseload, the voters should vote to remove all the downtown scummy public lawyers and judges, and hire more GPD in their place.
JeffK, you left out the City and County commissioners. Get rid of them also.
I doubt there’s much “if” about it…
If this guy gets caught, hopefully Walter Green isn’t the first-appearance judge! Green would even go light on this guy.
Macs drive thru must be a very safe place.
I’m seeing a pattern on N Main above 8th….
Popeyes, Circle K, Publix and now Zaxby’s all have one thing in common.
Not robberies or mugging in the parking lots neither.
I guess some folks are just very passionate about it.
🍗
So are we looking for a white guy in a black hoodie or black guy? Would be nice to eliminate 50%..jeeze. or did miss it?
It would be helpful to know, but might not be knowable yet. A lot is covered up by pants, presumably shoes, a hoodie, *and a face covering*. Guessing he might’ve had gloves on, too. Knowing he’s a male perhaps is due to body shape/stature/profile, and voice. There’s also the possibility he’s neither black nor white.
It is not politically correct to point out race; it is somehow not equitable. Sad.
34th street is the DMZ, anyplace east should be considered enemy “terroritory”.
Years ago NW 9th ave from Main street to NW 2nd street used to be called “Pistol Alley”. It may still be shown on the black and white street signs in the area and it is shown on google maps. For reference this is the street just south of Zaxby’s. Sounds like this area is living up to it’s heritage.
I go out of town for the weekends…when I came back, there were more
Panhandlers with signs on street corners. GNV is going downhill. Why did we have to get assistance from APD’s K-9 unit? Doesn’t GPD have one? Good grief!!! The cops found the suspect, he fired shots at them, and he got away? Not good!!!
Didn’t GPD have to dissolve their K9 due to public outrage?
And both GPD and ASO are dangerously understaffed. This is what happens when you “defund” the police. I hope people are now seeing the fruits of their labors here. You demanded, and you received. Now we all suffer.
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone at this point. Gainesville and surrounding areas have become a terrifying place to be.
Why did my comment on Pistol Alley not get approved?
Disregard, I see it now above, thank you for posting it.
He fired at ASO deputies? Where is the body? Better yet, why didn’t ASO return fire?
Had the aviation unit still been running, that would have been a big help.
With S146 riding TFO.
Right!
GPD……? OK well……
they got away. I can see that happening.
ACSO? And the suspect fired a handgun at ACSO deputies???
And there is no body?
Now that is a bit questionable…..
Gainesville wanting to be like California and succeeding (unfortunately).
Might help if they released surveillance video…
if Zaxby’s has surveillance cameras that work.
I’m assuming it was a Bravo Mike.
“Face Covering”, and being at Zaxby’s on N. Main. They will let us know when GPD & ACSO makes an arrest.