Update on March 5 deputy-involved shooting

March 8, 2021

Press release from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office has released the following timeline of the events of March 5:

Suspect assaults his girlfriend who recently gave birth. (1st Victim)
Suspect begins shooting and strikes a family member. (2nd Victim)
Neighbors report suspect outside shooting at them and a dog.
4:07 p.m. – First call placed regarding suspect tearing up the house and shooting.
4:13 p.m. – First deputies arrive on scene and report being fired upon.
4:16 p.m. – Deputies still reporting being shot at from someone inside the home.
4:18 p.m. – Deputies report suspect possibly struck and that he may be down.
4:24 p.m. – Deputies approach and remove suspect for medical attention.
4:24 p.m. – Deputies are notified of a victim with a gunshot wound one street over. The injury was later determined to be a graze wound. The victim did not require transportation by EMS. (3rd victim)
4:34 p.m. The suspect is reported deceased.
4:34 p.m. A female with a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the upper torso transported by EMS. (2nd victim)

Suspect: (deceased) Gregory L. Williams 7/15/88, 6’01”, 125 lbs

Deputies Involved:

Sgt. Fred “Todd” Thomas
Hired: 2/23/98 (21 year veteran)
Assigned to the Juvenile Relations Bureau

Sgt. Richard Howell
Hired: 07/12/04 (16 year veteran)
Assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division

Deputy Andy Adams
Hired: 3/31/08 (11 year veteran)
Assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division

Deputy Alex Acosta
Hired: 12/4/15 (5 year veteran)
Assigned to the Patrol Operations Division

Original statement:

On Friday, March 5th, the Combined Communications Center received multiple calls reporting a disturbance and shots fired at 2325 SE 46th Terrace. Communications operators could hear gunshots actively being fired as they spoke with a victim. They were also able to relay to responding deputies that at least one person appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound.

Upon arrival, responding deputies were met with gunfire. They returned fire, striking the suspect. Deputies immediately rendered emergency medical care and carried him to a waiting ambulance, where he succumbed to his injuries while still on scene. Simultaneously, other deputies on scene located a victim suffering from a gunshot wound and were able to provide treatment until the victim was transported to a local hospital.

Because deputies were involved in the shooting, the investigation into the events and timeline that led to it will be conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). As a matter of policy, the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an investigation into whether the policies of the Sheriff’s Office were followed. The deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the parallel investigations.