Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday, authorities arrested 26-year-old Darryl Dwayne Latson Jr. following a warrant issued for allegedly selling a handgun to a minor.

According to a Gainesville Police Department officer, Latson orchestrated a meeting on December 22 at 9:30 p.m. with a juvenile and his friend to conduct the sale of a firearm. Latson is accused of selling a Glock 30 (.45 caliber) pistol to the minor and his companion for $600, along with a small quantity of marijuana. The firearm reportedly included a black Glock case and a drum magazine capable of holding 30 rounds.

The officer noted that the juvenile had previously bought marijuana from Latson “six to seven times,” while his friend had acquired firearms from him before. It is reported that Latson knew the juvenile was 17 years old, information that surfaced during an October 2025 traffic stop when the juvenile was in a vehicle with Latson.

Latson, identified in court documents as a home health aide, is facing charges of transferring a firearm to a minor. With no prior criminal record, Judge Meshon Rawls has released him on his own recognizance, stipulating that he must not possess any firearms or have contact with the juvenile involved.

Articles concerning arrests are derived from law enforcement reports. The charges mentioned are based on arrest documentation and/or court records, representing only allegations. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.