Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Zachery Keith Turner III, 21, is facing an additional charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury. Authorities say he struck another vehicle while pursuing an SUV connected to people who had allegedly entered his car in an attempt to recover property they believed had been stolen.
According to the investigation, the confrontation began around 6:50 p.m. Oct. 19. Latese Williams and another person went to Turner’s workplace to accuse him of taking stereo equipment and jewelry that had belonged to Williams’ late husband. After Turner left work, the pair allegedly located his unattended vehicle and entered it to retrieve the items. Turner then allegedly approached them with a rifle, prompting them to leave in a white SUV. Turner reportedly followed them in a black SUV.
Williams was also charged with burglary of an unoccupied vehicle. Our previous report details the broader investigation.
Two witnesses later told a Gainesville Police Department officer that they were traveling south on the 1600 block of NE Waldo Road when they observed a white SUV being driven erratically with a black SUV close behind. Both vehicles continued south on Waldo Road before turning east onto NE 12th Avenue.
The witnesses continued toward the intersection of NE Waldo Road and NE 8th Avenue and began preparing to make a right turn. They said the white SUV suddenly moved in front of them, apparently as its driver tried to avoid being hit by the pursuing black SUV. The driver pulled into the parking lot at 806 NE Waldo Road, but the black SUV followed and struck the vehicle’s right rear quarter panel before leaving the area.
The witnesses reported that the black SUV’s driver did not stop, exchange information or offer assistance. The driver of the struck vehicle complained of neck pain, while another occupant said he was sore following the collision.
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Investigators identified Turner as the driver of the black SUV after he reportedly lost control and overturned the vehicle in the front yard of a home at 516 NE 8th Avenue.
The witnesses said they went to the location where the black SUV had crashed and photographed it. They later confirmed to police that it was the same vehicle involved in the earlier collision.
The new charge comes in addition to Turner’s previous charges: two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for allegedly striking the victims’ vehicle, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly pointing a firearm at the victims, two counts of battery on law enforcement officers and resisting an officer with violence. Turner has a 2022 juvenile conviction and was on pretrial release from a June arrest involving the alleged theft of a sound system from a parked vehicle. He is also facing a Notice to Appear accusing him of stealing $101 worth of clothing from Walmart in May. In a letter to Judge Robert Groeb regarding the June case, Turner asked for leniency, acknowledged making poor choices and said he was working to get his life “moving in the right direction… If you decide to give me leniency, I promise I won’t waste it.”
Judge Adam Lee set bail at an additional $25,000 for the latest charge. Bail on the earlier charges had previously been set at $225,000.
Arrest reports form the basis of articles about criminal charges. The allegations listed here come from law enforcement reports and/or court records and have not been proven in court. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty.
