In Gainesville, Florida, a chilling incident unfolded as a 25-year-old man, Anthony Quinn Lockhart Jr., was taken into custody on allegations of attempting to breach an occupied apartment.
The unsettling event occurred around 3:01 p.m. on May 7 at The Oaks on W. Newberry Road, where a doorbell camera captured a man, identified as Lockhart, methodically and quietly trying to open the door to an apartment. At that moment, a woman was inside, alone. Upon finding the door locked, the man simply walked away, seemingly unaware he was being recorded.
In a move that suggested deliberate intent, the suspect didn’t bother to knock or ring the bell. Instead, he directly tried the handle, later gazing directly into the camera before retreating. This unnerving behavior prompted the residents to alert law enforcement as soon as they received the notification from their doorbell camera. The woman, who was by herself during the incident, expressed her terror and, along with her roommate, reported ongoing anxiety and difficulty sleeping since the occurrence.
When officers from the Gainesville Police Department arrived, they noted that the suspect was wearing a distinct teal sweater with a leopard print, adding a peculiar detail to an already unsettling scenario.
The victims called law enforcement when they got the notification from the doorbell camera because they did not recognize the man and it was obvious that he was testing the door handle to see if it was unlocked. The female victim said she was terrified because she was alone at the time, and both residents of the apartment reported that they now feel uneasy and are having trouble sleeping.
The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that the suspect was wearing a teal-colored sweater with a distinct leopard print.
Facial recognition software matched the video from the doorbell with Lockhart’s face; he does not have a listed address and is considered to be homeless, but on May 8, Lockhart was spotted driving out of an apartment complex in the 4100 block of SW 20th Avenue, although he does not have a valid driver’s license. An officer reported that a teal sweater with a leopard print was found on the seat of the car.
Post Miranda, Lockhart reportedly admitted to pulling the door handle and asked if he could apologize to the victim. He also reportedly said he went to The Oaks to meet up with somebody to buy weed, and that person was supposed to leave the door open for him. However, the officer noted that his actions do not align with his story because he tried very slowly to turn the door handle, which is not normal for someone who expects the door to be open; he turned the door handle so quietly that the victim did not hear it, although she was nearby; he never knocked when he found that the door was locked; he walked away immediately instead of waiting for the person he was supposed to meet; and the doors are clearly marked with apartment numbers, so it seems unlikely that he accidentally went to the wrong apartment.
Lockhart reportedly had no response to these points and asked again if he could apologize to the victims.
The detective reported that GPD is following up with other residents of The Oaks who have doorbell cameras, to see if Lockhart went to other apartments. Also, an officer showed the doorbell video to a landscaper who was working in the area, and he reportedly said he “definitely” saw Lockhart walking around the apartment complex around 2 p.m., an hour before the reported incident.
When Lockhart was asked if he would be shown on other doorbell cameras, he reportedly “became very concerned” and thought about his answer before saying he had been in the complex for about an hour, but he only tested one door handle. He was also unable to provide any information about the person he claimed to be visiting at The Oaks.
Lockhart has been charged with attempted burglary of an occupied dwelling and driving with a suspended license. He has six felony convictions (four for burglary), two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent), and one criminal traffic conviction; he has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2022. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $52,000.
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
