By Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Renee Vivian Lunan, a 27-year-old resident of Ocala, found herself behind bars after allegedly assaulting a convenience store clerk with a cup of liquid and threatening another employee with a firearm.
The incident unfolded around 6:43 a.m. on December 15, when an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to the Circle K located at 9303 NW 39th Avenue in response to reports of an armed disturbance.
According to two store employees, two African American women entered the establishment and proceeded to spend approximately 11 minutes in the restroom. One of the employees identified one of the women as Lunan, noting her familiarity with Lunan due to her role in providing food to the store via a third-party service. The employee mentioned previous issues with Lunan.
After leaving the restroom, Lunan attempted to purchase a lighter at the counter. However, the employees refused the sale and asked both women to exit the premises. The situation escalated as Lunan reportedly became irate and hurled the lighter at one of the employees.
Subsequently, Lunan proceeded to the soda fountain, filled a cup, and approached the self-checkout to pay. A second employee intervened to prevent the transaction, prompting Lunan to douse her with the contents of the cup, leaving the employee soaked.
The two women went outside, and the second employee said she grabbed a broom and followed them. The first employee went toward Lunan’s vehicle to get the tag number, and Lunan took a bag from the vehicle and allegedly pulled out a handgun, “cocked” it, and pointed it at the first employee. The second employee said she dropped the broom when she saw Lunan take something from her car.
After Lunan allegedly pointed the gun, the two women left in a vehicle that was later identified as Lunan’s registered vehicle.
Lunan, whose address is listed as Ocala, reportedly told court officials she is a student at Santa Fe College. She has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony battery with a prior battery conviction. She has one misdemeanor conviction (violent) and is on pre-trial release for resisting an officer without violence following an October incident in which she refused to get out of her car after a traffic stop. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered her held without bail on the aggravated assault charge, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold her without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing. Judge Rawls set bail at $50,000 on the battery 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.
