Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Isaiah Earl Williams, 18, of Ocala, was arrested early this morning and charged with grand theft of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a delinquent under 24 years of age while officers were investigating shots fired in the 1000 block of W. University Avenue; one person was reportedly grazed by a bullet, but the victim had not been located at the time the arrest report was written.

At about 3:49 a.m., Gainesville Police Department officers were dealing with large crowds in the 1000 block of W. University Avenue when they heard about 15 gunshots. Officers went to the shooting location and reportedly found cars that had been hit by gunfire and one victim who had been grazed by a bullet. A witness reportedly pointed to a group walking away and said some of the shooters were in that group; the witness added that the “[black male] in the black shirt had a gun in his waistband.”

Officers made contact with the group, and a pat down of Williams reportedly produced a loaded Glock pistol in his waistband. The arresting officer noted that “in the chaos,” the gunshot victim walked away and had not been located as of the time the report was written and had not shown up at any local hospital.

The gun was reportedly loaded with 14 rounds and had been reported stolen in Ocala in 2020.

Post Miranda, Williams reportedly denied being involved in the shooting.

Williams reportedly had several juvenile felony convictions as a juvenile in Marion County, including a 2019 car burglary. He is being held without bail until his first appearance hearing on Monday morning.