Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two Gainesville men, 39-year-old Michael Deangelo Clayton and 37-year-old Devonn Antwan Denard Sowell, were arrested on firearm-related charges Thursday night following an armed confrontation. Clayton also faces a cocaine trafficking charge.
Gainesville Police Department officers were called at about 6:20 p.m. on July 3 to a home in Carol Estates South. Clayton reportedly told officers that he and Sowell had been friends for roughly two decades and were sharing an apartment. According to Clayton, the dispute began when Sowell accused him of smoking Sowell’s marijuana, leading to a physical fight. Clayton said he was getting the upper hand when Sowell left in a black Dodge Charger. Clayton told police he began collecting his belongings and went downstairs to remove himself from the situation, but Sowell soon returned, pulled out a gun and racked the slide three or four times, ejecting live rounds, before leaving again in the Charger.
Clayton reportedly told an officer the marijuana belonged to him and that he has a medical marijuana card.
After being read his Miranda rights, Clayton allegedly acknowledged that he had a firearm in his pocket during the first encounter but said he did not draw it.
Clayton reportedly said the confrontation escalated again after Sowell left for a second time. As Clayton continued gathering his belongings, he said Sowell returned once more and pointed the gun at him. Clayton told police he tried to head back upstairs, but Sowell, aware that Clayton had a gun in the apartment, allegedly warned him, “Don’t go back inside, I’ll do it to you,” while pointing the firearm at him again. Clayton said he feared for his safety, pulled his own gun and fired three rounds toward Sowell because he “wasn’t going to take any more chances” after seeing Sowell rack the slide earlier. Clayton said Sowell then fired multiple shots at him before leaving again in the Charger, while Clayton fled on foot and took cover at a nearby residence.
Officers later located Sowell driving the Charger and detained him. Police reported seeing a handgun in plain view in the vehicle’s center console.
After being read his Miranda rights, Sowell reportedly gave a different account. He said he and Clayton had fought inside the apartment and that he was losing, so he left with a friend, went to a convenience store and later returned. Sowell told police he saw Clayton outside and confronted him, and that when Clayton turned as if to go back into the apartment, Clayton suddenly turned around and fired several shots at him.
A witness reportedly said he heard several people arguing and then saw Sowell standing at the bottom of the stairs, firing multiple rounds up the stairs.
Another witness said Clayton fired at Sowell in self-defense.
Officers reportedly found multiple bullet impacts traveling upward through several steps of the staircase, along with a spent projectile at the top of the stairs and a live round at the bottom of the stairs, all indicating that the rounds had been fired from the lower end of the stairs. One spent casing was reportedly found at the top of the stairs, indicating that a firearm was also discharged from the upper end of the stairs.
Clayton’s firearm was reportedly not found, but a search of a vehicle reportedly produced about 49.2 grams of crack cocaine, and post Miranda, Clayton reportedly admitted that the crack cocaine belonged to him.
Sowell has been charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, for pointing his firearm at Clayton, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has six felony convictions (two violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served one state prison sentence, was released in September 2025, and is currently on probation. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
Clayton has been charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has 13 felony convictions (one violent) and 15 misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and has served five state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2024. Judge Ramsey set bail at $300,000.
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.
