Two arrested after reported shooting at Palms of Archer

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Harold Leon McMahon Jr., 26, of Chiefland, and Marquis Wendell Pollock, 31, of Gainesville, were arrested yesterday on firearm charges after deputies responded to a report of a shooting at the Palms of Archer.

At about 7:33 p.m. on June 27, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report that two males had been shot at the Palms of Archer (7117 SW Archer Road), where multiple witnesses pointed them to a specific lot; they saw McMahon standing outside, but he allegedly ran as they approached and was eventually detained about a block away.

While deputies were interviewing witnesses, Pollock reportedly approached the lot on foot, bleeding from the head, and told deputies that three men had jumped him in the street, stealing his belongings, which included a handgun and his car.

Deputies reviewed video of the original incident and interviewed witnesses and determined that Pollock caused a disturbance when he arrived; they noted that this is a “common and ongoing issue.” Pollock reportedly walked toward his brother, and they started fighting, with Pollock making verbal threats toward his brother and threatening to kill him.

During the fight, Pollock allegedly pulled a gun from his pocket and started to point it at his brother, but then the two men struggled over the gun, and it fell to the ground.

Multiple witnesses said McMahon picked up the gun, and a loud “pop” was heard, leading them to believe that McMahon fired the gun.

Post Miranda, McMahon reportedly said he hit someone (the arrest report appears to mix up the names here, so it’s not clear who was hit), but he never picked up the gun.

The firearm was recovered, and deputies reported that it had an active malfunction and was in a “stovepipe” condition, leading them to believe that it had been fired; no casing was recovered.

McMahon has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, reckless discharge of a firearm, and resisting an officer without violence. He has juvenile convictions between 2014 and 2017, 14 adult felony convictions (non-violent), and six adult misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served two state prison sentences on the 14 felony convictions and was most recently released in March 2025. Judge Joy Danne set bail at $60,000.

Pollock has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He has one felony conviction (non-violent, adjudication withheld) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent). Judge Danne set bail at $20,000.

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.