Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Johntavious Reshard Peterson, aged 16, faces adult charges for discharging a firearm into a residence during what is believed to be a gang-related incident at The Grove at Sweetwater Preserve on March 16. He is also facing adult charges for three separate firearm violations.
March 16 shooting at The Grove
At approximately 8 p.m. on March 16, officers from the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) responded to The Grove at Sweetwater Preserve, located at 125 SE 19th Place, following reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers found around 22 shell casings from a rifle (.223/.556) and a 9mm handgun in front of a building. They confirmed that bullets had struck at least three apartments and two cars. Reports indicate that the apartments “were occupied by adults and young children who narrowly escaped being hit by the bullets,” but thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Surveillance footage captured a white sedan entering the vicinity just before the gunfire began and then speeding away shortly after the incident.
Previously, Laron Detron Murphy, 18, Jordan Tyreek Welch, 19, and Malachi Ahmad Rosario, 18, were arrested on related charges connected to the same shooting.
Investigation into “The South” gang
A GPD detective had been investigating Murphy and a gang known as “The South” for crimes involving firearms. The investigation reportedly uncovered “numerous” photos and videos featuring Murphy’s associates, including Rosario and Peterson, holding a shotgun with a shortened barrel at Murphy’s residence in Lincoln Estates during April. After obtaining a search warrant, officers searched the home on April 25, seizing the shotgun in question, which had a barrel shorter than the legal length. They also reportedly retrieved a Premier Firearms PF-15 AR pistol, and preliminary test-firing linked it to the .223/.556 shell casings from the March 16 incident.
Peterson’s arrest on unrelated charges
On May 29, authorities conducted a traffic stop where Peterson was reportedly the front seat passenger. During the stop, the arresting officer reported discovering a Glock pistol beneath Peterson’s seat, resulting in his arrest as a juvenile for illegally concealing a firearm. Based on images from his Instagram account, he was also charged with possession of a short-barreled shotgun.
Peterson’s post-Miranda statements were redacted from the report provided to Alachua Chronicle, but it says he made two statements admitting to the offenses.
The arresting officer noted that Peterson had bragged on social media about having committed a shooting in Gainesville, which was under investigation at the time of his arrest; the officer noted that Peterson’s posts confirmed a “beef” between “The South” and the “Bricks” (Sugar Hill) gang members.
Peterson was charged in the March 16 shooting on June 12; that report is also heavily redacted, but it appears that his involvement was confirmed by his own post-Miranda statements, post-Miranda statements by another participant in the shooting, and a witness.
Peterson has now been charged as an adult with firing a missile into a dwelling, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, unlawfully concealing a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a person under 18. He has no criminal history and is listed as a 10th-grader. Judge Adam Lee set bail at $250,000.
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.
