Although shootings, shots fired, and armed burglary incidents have more than doubled in 2020 in the City of Gainesville and surrounding communities, this past week showed a marked decline in these occurrences, with the Gainesville Police Department receiving only 2 calls over the past 10 days in reference to similar incidents. 

Officers from the Gainesville Police Department responded to an armed robbery Friday, September 18th at approximately 1:31 AM on the 2600 block of NW 6th Street. The victim was walking on the street when approached by a vehicle with five suspects who exited the vehicle, pointed a handgun at and physically assaulted the victim, and then robbed the victim of their cell phone and money. 

After arriving to the scene, GPD officers put a BOLO (A broadcast issued from a law enforcement agency to others, typically containing information about a wanted suspect, a person of interest, or a related vehicle) out for the vehicle and began tracking the victim’s cell phone. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle, conducted a traffic stop, and found the victim’s cell phone inside the vehicle.

All five suspects were taken into custody with multiple charges from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to include a stolen firearm, narcotics, and possible stolen vehicle.

The suspects were identified as: Jayveon Hall, 20, Da’varic Hawkins, 19, Tyreese Speed, 21, Lee Willis, 20, and a juvenile.

Subsequent charges were: Hall (armed robbery and speeding), and Hawkins and Juvenile (w/Principal in 1st Degree). All suspects, except the Juvenile, are currently in the Columbia County Jail. 

Then on Saturday, September 19th at approximately 4:55PM, GPD officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of SW 27th Street (Lexington Crossing) in reference to an armed home invasion robbery. The victim, staying at a friend’s apartment, was confronted by a suspect who entered the apartment and pointed a handgun at them. The suspect stole money from the apartment before fleeing. There are no suspects at this time. GPD detectives are following up on several leads.