Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early this morning, law enforcement apprehended Juan Pozada Zepeda, a 31-year-old from Honduras, and Jose Torres Vazquez, a 32-year-old from Mexico. Pozada Zepeda is accused of brandishing a firearm and making threats toward a customer at The Loft, while Torres Vazquez is reported to have struck the same individual.
At approximately 12:28 a.m. on July 5, officers from the Gainesville Police Department were dispatched to The Loft, located at 11 SW 1st Street. According to the victim, he was in the nightclub when Pozada Zepeda allegedly pushed him as he headed to the restroom, causing the victim to stumble backward. After using the restroom, the victim stated he encountered Pozada Zepeda waiting for him.
The victim recounted that Pozada Zepeda initiated an argument and, during the confrontation, drew a semi-automatic gun from his clothing, taking aim and declaring, “I will kill you,” after engaging the firearm’s slide.
The victim said he raised his hands and started to back away, but Torres Vazquez and an unknown man punched him three times in the chest. At that point, three witnesses intervened, stopping the altercation.
An officer reported that all of the witnesses saw the entire incident, and security guards at The Loft also stepped in and escorted Pozada Zepeda out of the nightclub. When officers arrived, several bystanders and witnesses pointed them toward Pozada Zepeda and Torres Vazquez, but the gun was not found, and officers speculated that Pozada Zepeda had passed it to an unknown person before they arrived.
Post Miranda, Pozada Zepeda reportedly said that he had gotten into a verbal argument with the victim in the bathroom and that the victim had pushed him first. He said he never had a firearm, and no firearm was involved in the incident, but a search incident to arrest reportedly produced nine .45 caliber live rounds in his pants pocket. When an officer asked about the bullets, Pozada Zepeda reportedly stated again that he never had a gun.
Pozada Zepeda did not have any identification and reportedly said he was in this country illegally; the arresting officer wrote that there was no way to confirm his identification at the time.
Post Miranda, Torres Vazquez reportedly declined to answer any questions; he was identified by his Mexican ID card.
Pozada Zepeda, who is described as homeless on his arrest report, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His criminal history is currently unavailable; Judge David Kreider 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.
Torres Vazquez, who is described as homeless on his arrest report, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery. His criminal history is currently unavailable; Judge Kreider set bail at $110,000.
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.
