Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An 18-year-old named Benjamin Bernard Ousley Jr. was taken into custody last night, accused of wielding a sword and harming a man, while also endangering and frightening two children.
Ousley allegedly did not reside at the scene of the incident, yet reportedly assaulted the resident by kicking and punching him, subsequently grabbing a sword and swinging it towards the resident.
A witness allegedly claimed that Ousley grabbed a sword from within the home and began to “strike” the resident due to a belief that the resident was not supposed to be there. The witness noted that two children, aged 9 and 10, witnessed the event and were perilously close as Ousley swung the sword.
The victim reportedly stated Ousley kicked and punched him “numerous” times, causing him to fall to the ground; he mentioned that Ousley then picked up the sword and attacked him, although he was uncertain if he was actually hit with it.
The officer from the Gainesville Police Department, upon arrival, noted a cut on the victim’s leg that might have resulted from either his fall or a sword strike.
Both children reportedly said Ousley stabbed the victim with the sword.
Following his Miranda rights, Ousley reportedly admitted to confronting the victim because the victim was said to be unwelcome at the residence and near the children. Ousley claimed he brandished the sword to intimidate rather than to kill. He reportedly denied swinging the sword, suggesting the children may have misinterpreted him unsheathing it as swinging. He added that he “saw red” and acknowledged the potential risk to the children, as they were nearby during the confrontation.
The officer reported that the children were “scared, hysterically crying, screaming, and hyperventilating,” and officers spent several minutes trying to calm them by talking them through breathing exercises and comforting them; one of the children reportedly had an asthma attack that was caused by the incident.
Ousley has been charged with aggravated battery and two counts of child abuse without great bodily harm. His criminal history is currently unavailable. Judge Gloria Walker ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
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.
