Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Itionna Lajancia Nyjah Thompkins, 23, was arrested yesterday and charged with battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly punching a relative and threatening her with a knife.

At about 5:25 p.m. on Saturday, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the 6700 block of SW 6th Place, where the victim said Thompkins had attacked her. The victim, a relative of Thompkins, reportedly said that Thompkins hit her during an argument about food and that she and Thompkins both fell to the ground and Thompkins punched her multiple times. The deputy reported that the victim did not suffer visible injuries.

The victim said she pushed away from Thompkins and walked across the street, but Thompkins allegedly picked up a kitchen knife and bicycle handlebars and followed the victims, calling out threats while armed with the knife. Thompkins allegedly threatened to go to the victim’s home and break all the windows, and she started walking in that direction.

A witness reportedly said he saw Thompkins hit the victim first and also saw Thompkins walking toward the victim with a knife. A neighbor also reportedly said he saw Thompkins carrying a knife.

Thompkins was reportedly found hiding in a vehicle near the victim’s home. When deputies arrived, Thompkins reportedly got out of the vehicle, walked toward the deputies, and said she had hit the victim, but the victim hit her first.

The owner of the vehicle reportedly said Thompkins had come to his front door and asked him to hide her from the police, but he refused and closed the door.

Post Miranda, Thompkins said the victim hit her first and that she never had a knife or handlebars. She reportedly had a small scratch on her shoulder.

Thompkins has a juvenile criminal history from 2013 to 2018, three adult felony convictions (two violent), and seven adult misdemeanor convictions (none violent). Judge Mark Moseley set bail at $6,000.