Report by Staff

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Sunday, authorities apprehended 22-year-old Lorenzo Joshua Johnson Jr., charging him with carjacking and domestic battery. Allegedly, Johnson violently seized a woman’s car, assaulted her, and strangled her during the incident.

The previous afternoon, January 3, deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a panic alarm at Bellamay Grand Apartments located at 2625 SW 75th Street. Witnesses reported witnessing a violent altercation between a man and a woman before both departed in a black Kia. Deputies discovered blood and broken items near the woman’s apartment. It was also reported that the woman had been spitting blood as she fled the scene.

During this investigation, Gainesville Police Department received a call about a vehicle theft at the Wawa on SW Archer Road. The stolen vehicle, a black Kia, matched the descriptions of both the car and individuals involved in the earlier incident at Bellamay Grand. However, the Kia and the original caller left the Wawa before police could arrive.

Later, deputies interviewed the victim, who recounted that she and Johnson were preparing to leave her apartment when he became agitated because she needed more time. He allegedly punched her multiple times in the face. Fleeing with her keys in her waistband, she said Johnson caught her, assaulted her further, took the keys, and attempted to steal her vehicle. Fearing he might crash it, she jumped into the passenger seat, but his reckless driving made her want to escape.

The victim described how, when the car eventually slowed, she attempted to open the door to exit. Johnson allegedly reacted by grabbing her around the neck, choking her to the point where her breathing was restricted.

The car eventually became stuck in traffic near the Wawa, and the victim said she got out of the vehicle and called 911 to report her vehicle as stolen; she said Johnson came back and offered to let her drive if she would take him to a family member’s home, and she agreed. She said she drove to a different residence and ran from the vehicle with her keys; she said Johnson left the area on foot, and she eventually drove herself back to her apartment.

Deputies tried to find Johnson on Saturday, but they were not successful, and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

On Sunday, January 4, deputies located Johnson driving a white Toyota Camry northbound on I-75 near mile marker 384. Deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop, and Johnson reportedly complied with their lawful commands and was arrested.

Johnson has been charged with unarmed carjacking, domestic battery by strangulation, and domestic battery with a prior battery conviction. He is a designated Violent Felony Offender of Special Concern who has six felony convictions (two violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (violent); he has served one four-year state prison sentence and was released in November 2025. He is on probation until November 2027 for two Alachua County cases.

Judge Meshon Rawls initially ordered him held without bail on the carjacking and strangulation charges, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial, but the State Attorney’s office later notified a judge that they do not intend to seek pre-trial detention. Bail has not yet been set on those charges, but Judge Rawls set bail at $100,000 on the domestic battery charge.

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.