Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities took Jaylen Marquis Williams, 21, into custody yesterday following allegations that he shoved a minor, later returning with a knife and threatening the youth with, “I’m going to hit you.”
According to reports, the incident unfolded around 6:30 p.m. on May 20, as the young victim was assisting his sister with her bicycle repairs on the street near the Williams Recreation Center. It was then that Williams allegedly confronted and pushed the minor. In response, the victim sought refuge by running towards the basketball court and finding safety behind three bystanders.
Williams is said to have retreated to his home, only to reemerge wielding a small knife with a black handle, and reiterated his threat, “I’m going to hit you.” However, he eventually discarded the knife before returning to his residence.
Eyewitnesses corroborated the victim’s account, stating they observed Williams push the juvenile, after which the victim sought shelter behind them. They confirmed seeing Williams return with a knife, repeating his threat. The knife was later retrieved by police at the scene.
The officer reportedly recovered the knife.
Post Miranda, Williams reportedly said he and the victim were friends, and they got into an argument over the bicycle; he said he got “angry” at the victim, so he went back to his residence, grabbed the knife, and walked over to the victim with the knife in his hand. He said he did not say anything to the victim while holding the knife, and he didn’t know why he grabbed the knife.
Williams has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and child abuse without great bodily harm. In 2023, he was charged with battery on a detention officer after allegedly spitting on a detention officer at the Alachua County Jail; he was eventually found incompetent to proceed in that case and was released on his own recognizance. In his order, Judge David Kreider wrote that Williams suffered from an intellectual disability and was “non-restorable to competence”; Williams did not meet the criteria for commitment to a treatment facility of the Department of Children and Families.
Judge Adam Lee set bail at $50,000.
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.
