Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 71-year-old Gainesville man, Joseph Ryan, was taken into custody last night after police say he threatened to kill his longtime boyfriend while holding a rock.
According to the Gainesville Police Department, an officer was called at about 10:49 p.m. on August 16 to the Shell gas station at 3831 NW 13th Street after the alleged victim reported that Ryan had threatened him.
The alleged victim told the responding officer that he and Ryan had been in a romantic relationship for 18 years and that their relationship had involved a “long history” of violence. He said he had been sitting near the gas station with two witnesses when Ryan approached. Although he initially felt uneasy, he said the group began drinking alcoholic beverages together, leading him to believe the encounter would remain peaceful.
The situation reportedly escalated after the alleged victim told Ryan he wanted to end their relationship. Police say Ryan began yelling, then allegedly picked up an object from the ground and said he was going to kill him. The alleged victim told the officer that Ryan raised his hand as though preparing to throw the object, prompting him to run inside the gas station and ask employees to call 911. He said he feared for his life and believed Ryan would follow through on the threat.
One witness reportedly backed up that account, telling police Ryan began shouting after the alleged victim said he wanted to break up. The witness said Ryan then picked up a rock and threatened to kill him. After the alleged victim ran away, Ryan reportedly dropped the rock. The witness pointed out the rock to the officer, who described it as “a little larger than a softball.”
A second witness was reportedly harder for the officer to understand and initially said he did not see anyone pick up a rock or hear any threats. However, police said the witness appeared to grow less certain during the conversation and later stated that he did not recall anyone grabbing a rock.
After being read his Miranda rights, Ryan reportedly denied that the confrontation became physical. He told police he and the alleged victim had only argued and insisted he never picked up a rock. Ryan also claimed the alleged victim and the first witness were working together against him because they wanted to see him jailed.
Ryan, a designated Career Offender whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with domestic aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has 14 felony convictions (seven violent) and 13 misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served nine state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2024. He was most recently arrested on July 16 for domestic battery against the same victim as this case, but the charges were dropped on August 10, and he was released. Judge Joy Danne set bail at $10,000 on the new charge.
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.
