By Staff Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early this morning, 22-year-old Matthew Oneil Spence was taken into custody after Gainesville police were alerted to his possession of a firearm.

At approximately 1:11 a.m. on November 19, officers from the Gainesville Police Department responded to a tip from a reliable source indicating that Spence was armed and had been involved in a dispute in a busy parking lot located in the 200 block of NW 1st Avenue. As the officers approached Spence’s car, he allegedly attempted to walk away but was quickly detained. During a search, Spence reportedly admitted to possessing a gun and disclosed that he is a convicted felon.

The firearm was identified by the officer as a striker-fired Glock 19-style pistol without a serial number, often referred to as a “Ghost Gun.”

While Spence’s complete criminal record is not fully available, the arrest report indicates he has six prior felony convictions. He was released from prison in January 2025 after serving a two-year sentence for multiple felonies related to burglary and grand theft. Judge Jonathan Ramsey has set his bail at $15,000.

Arrest-related articles are derived from reports issued by law enforcement agencies. The charges mentioned stem from arrest documents and/or court records and remain allegations. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.