In Gainesville, Florida, a potentially dangerous situation unfolded late last night when Kenneth Ellis Wetherington, 59, found himself in police custody. The arrest stemmed from an incident involving gunfire in the bustling Midtown area, leading to charges of illegal firearm possession due to his status as a convicted felon.
At approximately 10:15 p.m. on November 21, officers from the Gainesville Police Department responded swiftly to reports of gunshots echoing from the vicinity of the 100 block of NW 9th Terrace. Witnesses on the scene indicated that the shots originated from the parking lot adjacent to the building at 102 NW 9th Terrace. It was during this time that Wetherington was allegedly embroiled in a heated argument with another man, during which he reportedly discharged a firearm.
Upon reaching the scene, officers located Wetherington in his apartment within the same building. A witness corroborated the incident, claiming that Wetherington had confessed to brandishing a gun during the confrontation and firing multiple rounds. The investigation revealed three .40 S&W Federal shell casings scattered in the parking lot.
As Wetherington was being detained, a notable exchange was inadvertently captured by an officer’s body-worn camera. In a conversation with a witness, Wetherington expressed concern about a potential search of his residence, reportedly remarking, “Hopefully, they don’t find anything.”
Armed with a search warrant, law enforcement officers conducted a thorough examination of Wetherington’s apartment. Their efforts uncovered a handgun loaded with six rounds of .40 S&W Federal ammunition, the same type as the casings found outside, thereby strengthening the case against him.
A search warrant for Wetherington’s apartment was obtained, and officers reportedly found a handgun loaded with six .40 S&W Federal rounds that matched the shell casings recovered outside.
An additional loaded magazine for the handgun was also reportedly found, along with a broken shotgun, 28 rounds of .40 S&W Federal ammunition, and 26 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.
Wetherington has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the most recent court document from 2019, he has 11 felony convictions (one violent) and 14 misdemeanor convictions; he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2014. Judge Robert Groeb set bail at $100,000.
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.
