GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a recent development at the University of Florida, 21-year-old Kenyata Malik McCoy was taken into custody following the discovery of a firearm on the university premises. McCoy, who is currently under a pre-trial diversion program from an earlier charge in April involving loitering and non-violent resistance to an officer, now faces charges related to possession of a firearm on campus.
The incident unfolded when an employee at the Broward Dining Facility, located at 596 Broward Drive, stumbled upon a gun in the men’s restroom. Concerned, the employee promptly informed their supervisor, which led to the involvement of the University of Florida Police.
Surveillance footage reviewed by the police revealed that McCoy entered the restroom around 12:07 a.m. on November 7 and exited approximately ten minutes later. Following McCoy’s departure, the dining facility employee was the next individual to enter and subsequently discover the firearm.
Authorities located McCoy yesterday at Lux 13 Apartments. During questioning, after being read his Miranda rights, McCoy reportedly admitted to seeing the gun on the restroom sink, expressing surprise with a simple “Wow.” He claimed that he picked up the firearm and then put it back down but insisted he did not bring it into the restroom.
Further investigation into the firearm revealed that it was reported stolen from a vehicle back in June 2020. McCoy’s criminal history includes an arrest in the summer of 2020 for a series of car burglaries, during which he confessed to stealing from several vehicles, including taking a purse. Additionally, in September 2021, he was apprehended for unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm, claiming then that he found the weapon in some bushes.
The officer noted that the gun was reported stolen from a vehicle in June 2020. McCoy was arrested in the summer of 2020 for multiple car burglaries and admitted, post Miranda, that he had burglarized several vehicles and had stolen a purse from one of them. In September 2021, McCoy was arrested for unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm, and McCoy reportedly said at the time that he found the gun in the bushes.
The officer noted that McCoy “was actively committing vehicle burglaries around the time frame this firearm was reported stolen” and “his statement post Miranda places him in possession of the stolen firearm on University of Florida property.”
McCoy has been charged with possession of a firearm on school property. He has juvenile convictions spanning from 2019 to 2021 but no adult convictions. He was arrested in April 2025 for loitering/prowling and resisting an officer without violence and entered into a pre-trial diversion agreement that will dismiss the charges if he abides by a list of conditions for six months; one of the conditions is to refrain from violating any laws.
Judge Denise Ferrero set bail at $10,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
