Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Nineteen-year-old Laron Detron Murphy has been sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by 30 months of probation, after pleading no contest to possessing a short-barreled shotgun. The court chose not to formally register a conviction.

Murphy’s arrest on June 10 came after an investigation into “The South” gang, which was suspected of firearm-related offenses. A detective from the Gainesville Police Department uncovered multiple images and videos showing Murphy’s acquaintances holding a sawed-off shotgun during a visit to Murphy’s residence in Lincoln Estates in April. A search warrant was issued and executed on April 25, revealing the shotgun in question. The detective verified that the barrel was shorter than legally allowed. 

After being Mirandized, Murphy reportedly claimed the shotgun belonged to a friend who had brought it to his Lincoln Estates home around March 2025. He admitted to allowing it to stay there without asking the friend to remove it and confessed to handling it at least once that same March. When shown a video of himself and friends sharing possession of the weapon in his backyard, Murphy confirmed it was the same shotgun discovered during the search at his house.

Previously having one juvenile conviction, Murphy entered a no contest plea today to the charge of possessing a short-barreled shotgun. Judge James Colaw decided not to adjudicate him guilty but sentenced Murphy to 90 days in the Alachua County Jail, with credit for two days served, followed by 30 months of probation. He is banned from interacting with the other individuals involved in the case and from possessing firearms or illegal substances, and he must undergo random urine testing.