Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kelvin Tay’sean Baker, 18, was taken into custody early today on charges of attempted murder following the alleged shooting of an individual he has been familiar with for a long time.

Close to 10:45 p.m. on July 2, a 911 call from the victim indicated that he had been shot. Using cellphone tracking, officers from the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) located him in the 1100 block of NE 24th Street. The victim had sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder, and officers administered medical assistance until emergency services arrived. The victim named Baker, whom he has known for many years, as the person who shot him, though he was unsure of Baker’s motive for doing so.

Police identified Baker’s nearby address and surrounded the area. Despite several loud calls from officers, a family member opened the door and claimed ignorance of Baker’s whereabouts. However, another resident indicated Baker was present. Following additional announcements from officers, Baker emerged and was subsequently taken to GPD headquarters for further questioning.

Medical staff reportedly told an officer that the bullet had entered the victim’s upper right shoulder, damaged his lung, and was lodged in his middle back.

At the hospital, the victim reportedly said he was friends with Baker’s older brother, Emanuel Baker, who is currently serving 15 years in prison on an attempted homicide charge. The victim said he was riding his bike northbound on NE 24th Street, heading home from work, and when he passed by Baker’s residence, he heard someone call his nickname from the front door of the home next to Baker’s. The victim said Baker was sitting on the neighbor’s porch and had called out to him. He said he got off the bike and was walking the bike up to the porch but was still in the roadway when he saw Baker raise his arm; he said he heard and felt a gunshot at that moment, then dropped his bike and fled southbound on NE 24th Street while calling 911.

Officers reportedly found four 9mm shell casings near the front door of the neighbor’s home.

Post Miranda, Baker reportedly said he had been sitting on the front porch of his residence, smoking “weed,” and when he got up to go inside, he heard about three gunshots and continued inside. He said that before he went onto the porch, he had been in his home since about 9 p.m., playing Xbox in his room. Baker reportedly said he did not own a firearm and did not have any firearms in his room; he said there had been no firearms in the house since Emanuel was arrested. Baker reportedly said he had no issues with the victim and didn’t know who might have shot at him. He reportedly said several times that officers should look at the house video and the next door neighbor’s video; he said he had not been at the neighbor’s residence and had not called out to the victim, although he saw him ride by on his bike.

The next-door neighbor reportedly said Baker sometimes hangs out in front of his home. He reportedly added that he has a doorbell camera, but the officer noted that the neighbor has not produced any video and didn’t seem to be concerned that Baker was implicated in a shooting on his property.

A search warrant for Baker’s home was obtained, and officers reportedly found a box of ammunition in Baker’s bedroom that matched the shell casings on the neighbor’s property. One live round was reportedly in the box, and one was on the floor; a full box of 9mm ammunition (the same brand as the shell casings) was reportedly found on the front porch of Baker’s home. A small pistol holster was reportedly found in a clothing hamper in Baker’s room, and a second small pistol holster was reportedly found on the porch, along with a small amount of burnt marijuana.

A GPD K-9 team searched for a firearm, and the K-9 alerted to an old pickup truck next to Baker’s home; a 9mm S&W pistol was reportedly found under the front of the truck.

In a second interview with Baker, he reportedly said he didn’t know anything about the holsters or ammunition, although one of the boxes was reportedly next to his Xbox controller on his dresser. Baker also said he didn’t know anything about the holsters and said the gun belonged to Emanuel. The officer noted that Emanuel has been incarcerated since 2023, and the pistol did not look like it had been under the truck for two years.

Baker has been charged with attempted homicide. His full criminal history is unavailable because the Clerk of Court has a holiday today; a judge will set bail or order him held without bail at a hearing tomorrow.

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.