In a recent development from Gainesville, Florida, authorities have detained 28-year-old John Lee Willis Jr. in connection with a shooting incident that occurred at Majestic Oaks in October 2025.

The incident unfolded at approximately 9:16 p.m. on October 28, 2025, when deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to the Majestic Oaks Apartment Complex located at 5800 SW 20th Avenue. Several emergency calls had reported an armed disturbance accompanied by a potential car crash. Interestingly, deputies had been called to the same location around two hours prior for a similar armed disturbance involving the same individuals.

Upon arrival, deputies encountered a sizable crowd gathered in front of one of the buildings. They also observed significant damage where a vehicle had collided with the structure. Shortly afterwards, authorities received a notification from a nearby hospital, indicating that a gunshot victim had arrived for treatment.

According to the victim, the altercation began after he drove to Majestic Oaks with two companions, one of whom intended to confront a woman regarding a previous matter. An argument quickly escalated into a physical altercation, with Willis stepping in. Although Willis engaged in a physical fight with one of the victim’s companions, no injuries were reported initially. The victim and his companion then attempted to return to their vehicle.

It was at this point, the victim recounted, that Willis approached him aggressively. In an effort to defend himself, the victim grabbed Willis, leading to a brief struggle. As the victim retreated to his vehicle, he saw Willis standing in front of him brandishing a gun. In a desperate move, the victim drove toward Willis, resulting in a collision with both Willis and the building. The victim only realized he had been shot after a friend noticed he was bleeding.

The victim said that was when Willis came toward him, swinging his fist, and the victim tried to protect himself by grabbing Willis; he said they fought for about a minute, and then he got in his vehicle, saw Willis standing in front of him with a gun, and drove toward him. He said the vehicle hit Willis and the building, and he didn’t realize he had been shot until a friend saw blood on him.

The deputy reported that surveillance video and cell phone video from others at the scene corroborated the victim’s story; the deputy added that when the victim and his companion were walking back toward their vehicle, Willis can be seen reaching into his hoodie pocket, pulling out something black, and then swinging the black item at the victim’s head. The victim grabs Willis, a gunshot can be heard on the video, and a gun can be seen falling to the ground. The three men fight for about a minute and the victim and his companion get into the vehicle, and then Willis can be seen picking up the gun from the ground as the vehicle drives toward Willis.

One spent shell was found near the victim’s vehicle, and a witness eventually turned in a 9mm handgun to deputies at the scene.

The deputy noted that when Willis shot the victim, the victim was not doing anything criminal that would support a self-defense claim by Willis. Willis is also a convicted felon and cannot lawfully possess a firearm.

Willis has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has juvenile convictions between 2009 and 2015 and two adult felony convictions; he has served one five-year state prison sentence and was released in 2023. Judge Meshon Rawls 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.

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.