Two arrested after early morning shooting at David’s BBQ

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Christian Alexander Butler, 23, and Daniel Levi Jordan, 33, were arrested yesterday after a domestic battery incident led to a shooting at David’s BBQ on NE 23rd Avenue.

Jordan reportedly learned on May 23 that his girlfriend was driving a vehicle owned by Butler, her ex-boyfriend; Jordan and his girlfriend, who is pregnant, had lived together until two days ago, when his girlfriend went to stay with Butler.

At about 7 a.m. on May 23, Jordan allegedly used a hammer to smash a window on the vehicle his girlfriend had parked at David’s BBQ (521 NE 23rd Avenue), and his girlfriend called Butler. Jordan allegedly pushed his girlfriend to the ground, grabbed the phone, and smashed it on the ground, making it inoperable; his girlfriend sustained abrasions from being pushed to the ground.

Butler went to David’s BBQ, where Jordan was reportedly driving out of the parking lot. Jordan told a responding Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer that Butler pulled in front of him and pointed a gun at him through the passenger side window. Jordan said he tried to drive around Butler’s vehicle, but the vehicles side-swiped each other, causing minor damage to both vehicles. Jordan said that Butler fired the gun at him during the crash.

Two bullet holes were reportedly found in Jordan’s vehicle, consistent with the angle and trajectory of coming from a nearby vehicle.

Butler and Jordan’s girlfriend reportedly left the area before officers arrived but later went to GPD headquarters to make a report.

Interviewed later at GPD headquarters, Jordan’s girlfriend reportedly told the officer she had called Butler during the fight with Jordan, but she initially said that Butler never shot a gun or even had a gun. She later reportedly admitted she had been untruthful and that she saw Butler arrive at the same time Jordan was trying to drive away. She said Jordan intentionally crashed into Butler’s vehicle, prompting Butler to fire his gun at Jordan.

Officers reported that the rear bumper of Butler’s vehicle was damaged, but based on the amount of damage, there did not appear to have been any imminent threat of great bodily harm that would have justified the use of deadly force.

Post Miranda at GPD headquarters, Butler reportedly said Jordan’s girlfriend called him and he heard screaming, so he went to David’s BBQ and saw Jordan driving away. He said he drove past Jordan’s vehicle and Jordan hit his vehicle twice from behind. Butler reportedly denied ever having a gun or firing a gun.

A gunshot residue test on Butler reportedly produced a positive presumption of gunshot residue on his hands, and Butler reportedly said he had last fired a gun on May 21. A search of Butler’s vehicle reportedly produced 9mm and 38 Special ammunition but no firearms.

Another witness reportedly told officers that she had been in the parking lot during the altercation and saw Jordan driving out of the parking lot. She said Butler pulled in front of Jordan’s vehicle, Jordan’s vehicle ran into Butler’s vehicle, and she heard multiple gunshots. She said Butler left the area and Jordan drove back into the parking lot, got out of his vehicle, and tried to get into the building, but it was locked. She said Butler returned, stopped in the street, pointed a gun at Jordan, and told him to get on the ground before driving away.

Another witness said she heard Jordan’s girlfriend tell Jordan that Butler was going to come and “f*** him up.”

Officers reportedly viewed a video of Butler returning to the scene and confronting Jordan. The video shows Butler and Jordan engaging in a verbal argument while Jordan is standing in the parking lot and Butler is sitting in his vehicle in the roadway. The person taking the video can be heard saying, “He about to shoot his a**.”

Post Miranda, Jordan reportedly admitted smashing the window of a vehicle that belonged to Butler and was driven by his girlfriend and also admitted smashing his girlfriend’s phone. He said he thought he was justified in taking the phone by force because he thought it was a phone he bought for her; the officer noted that it was a different phone, but even if it had been the same phone, he would not have been justified in taking a gift from her by force.

Butler has been charged with attempted homicide, shooting a deadly missile into a vehicle, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of another person. He has no criminal convictions but has a Notice to Appear for stalking the female victim in this case. Judge Luis Bustamante ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

Jordan has been charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant woman and two counts of property damage. He has no criminal history. Judge Luis Bustamante ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

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.