Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gwennesha Marrkenya Demps, 32, and Rahim Arthur Henderson, 50, were arrested yesterday after a man told police that Henderson fired at him during a dispute over money Demps allegedly wanted him to return. Henderson faces an attempted homicide charge, while Demps has been charged with armed robbery and additional offenses.
According to a Gainesville Police Department report, Demps and the victim met on September 13 intending to pool their money to buy drugs. When they were unable to make the purchase, an argument broke out over the money. The victim told police he attempted to leave, but Demps followed him for roughly 10 blocks while demanding that he hand over the cash. He said he refused because the money belonged to him.
Police said Demps allegedly picked up a small stick, described as a “switch,” and struck the victim in the face. An officer reported that the victim’s injuries were consistent with being hit by a small stick.
The victim continued walking away and refused to give Demps the money. He said Demps then called Henderson, her boyfriend, and told him where they were. When the victim told Demps to leave him alone, she allegedly replied that Henderson was coming and would “take care of it.”
Henderson reportedly arrived as Demps and the victim were on NE 1st Avenue between NE 15th Street and NE 16th Street. According to police, surveillance video shows Henderson stepping into the roadway approximately two feet in front of the pair. Henderson tells the victim to stop, after which the video shows a muzzle flash and captures the sound of one gunshot. The victim told officers Henderson shot at him but missed.
The victim said he ran immediately because he feared for his life. Without a phone, he went to a convenience store and called 911. He was able to identify Henderson and knew where he lived, so officers went to Henderson’s residence, summoned him outside over a public address system and arrested him. Demps was also inside the home. Police said she initially refused to come out despite “numerous” instructions, but she was eventually taken into custody.
After being read his Miranda rights, Demps reportedly told police that she had met the victim to combine their money for a drug purchase. When the purchase did not happen, she wanted her money returned, but the victim refused. She allegedly admitted following him and striking him with a “switch,” as well as calling Henderson to retrieve the money. Demps said she was present when Henderson confronted the victim, but claimed she looked away when the gun was fired.
After being read his Miranda rights, Henderson reportedly declined to speak with an officer.
An officer wrote that Demps appeared to believe the victim had taken her money and had called Henderson to recover it. The officer said Henderson threatened the victim with a gun in an effort to get the money back before firing at him.
Police reportedly found a pistol in plain view on the driver’s seat of a car parked in front of Henderson’s home. The vehicle is registered to a family member, but Demps reportedly told officers that Henderson usually drives it.
Demps faces charges of armed robbery, simple battery and resisting an officer without violence. She has one prior non-violent felony conviction and five misdemeanor convictions, including one for a violent offense. Judge Lua Lepianka ordered Demps held without bail while the State Attorney’s Office seeks to keep her jailed without bail through trial. If that motion is denied, bail will be set during the hearing.
Henderson has been charged with attempted first-degree homicide, attempted armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His record includes 20 felony convictions, two of them violent, and 13 misdemeanor convictions, including one violent offense. He is also facing a sworn complaint alleging that he resisted an officer without violence on August 21. Henderson has served four state prison sentences and was most recently released in 2017. Judge Lua Lepianka ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on the State Attorney’s Office motion to keep him detained without bail until trial. If the motion is denied, bail will be set at that hearing.
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.
