Law enforcement apprehends boy who attempted 2 armed carjackings

Mar 26, 2025 10:11 am
Alachua County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle.
Courtesy of ACSO

Law enforcement apprehended an armed 11-year-old boy who attempted carjackings in the Meadowbrook and Hills of Santa Fe neighborhoods in Northwest Gainesville on Tuesday evening.

According to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) release sent Wednesday, deputies responded at 3:06 p.m. to a victim who said the suspect, 11-year-old King Showers, pointed a gun at them and demanded their car keys. The victim told deputies they recognized Showers from a prior meeting.

Showers fled the scene on foot after the unsuccessful carjacking.

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At 4:07 p.m., deputies responded to a second armed robbery attempt in the Hills of Santa Fe neighborhood where victims stated the suspect pointed a gun at them and demanded their car. As deputies arrived on scene, the suspect was seen fleeing on foot.

After interviewing the Hills of Santa Fe victims, deputies learned Showers was the same suspect in both incidents.

After a search that included ACSO deputies, a K-9 unit, a SWAT team, ACSO detectives and Alachua County Fire Rescue drones, Showers was eventually located at his home in the Hills of Santa Fe and taken into custody after 8 p.m.

Following a consensual search of Showers’ residence, detectives found a small replica handgun, which was determined to be a novelty lighter.

Showers was charged with armed carjacking with a firearm and two counts of armed robbery with a firearm.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with information from an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office press release.

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  • C.J. Gish

    C.J. Gish is the senior editor for Mainstreet Daily News. He is a Pacific Northwest transplant who grew up in Oregon and moved to Florida in 2018. C.J. has spent more than 30 years in media, public relations and marketing, including stints as a newspaper reporter, working at two TV stations (FOX and ABC) in Boise, and as a media specialist for Eastern Oregon University. C.J. enjoys sports, especially the NFL and NBA, and is the father to three amazing adult children. Send story ideas to editor@mainstreetdailynews.com

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Anon

Start ’em young.

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Faith Reidenbach

Since when are minor children named in news stories?

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Jsue Wagner

I am surprised to see the name of an 11-year old published prior to due process for alleged criminal activity. Is this a Florida thing?

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Michael

Usual suspects. And for those upset the name was published, if this little hoodlum is willing to attempt carjackings, he can have his name published.

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Michael Hines

There’s nothing wrong with explaining and notifying the area of a juvenile attempting car jacking the community drivers. We don’t live in a bubble bad things happen to good people and yes Alachua County is not exempt a felony crimes from juveniles at any age.

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