Report by Staff
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have apprehended three 19-year-olds—Kouvaris Lamar Roberts, Jordan Tyreek Welch, and Demetrick Dion Williams—following two separate ammunition theft incidents at Bass Pro Shops on Friday, April 24. Notably, both Roberts and Welch were reportedly on probation during the time of the offenses.
The morning of April 25 saw an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy dispatched to Bass Pro Shops, located at 2650 Bass Pro Boulevard. A Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) briefed the deputy about two thefts that occurred the previous afternoon.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on April 24, four individuals were spotted entering the store and heading towards the ammunition section. Surveillance footage later identified Welch as the person who picked up two boxes of Hornady 9mm rounds, valued at $55.98. The group departed the aisle, and video evidence allegedly captured Welch passing the boxes to Williams. Williams then tucked them into his front pocket while Welch positioned himself to obscure Williams’s actions. Both were seen exiting the store without paying, with a noticeable bulge in Welch’s front pocket, which he attempted to conceal with his hand.
Facial recognition technology enabled the LPO to identify Welch and Williams, while the deputy independently verified their identities through law enforcement databases.
Later that day, around 6 p.m., Roberts reportedly arrived at the store in a red Honda. He proceeded to the ammunition section, selected two boxes of S&W .40 cal Federal Syntech rounds, similarly valued at $55.98, and allegedly concealed them in his pockets after moving to another aisle. Surveillance captured Roberts leaving the store, again with a visible bulge in his front pocket.
The LPO used facial recognition software to identify Roberts, and the deputy independently confirmed his identity using law enforcement databases. The three men were arrested at their residences between 3:05 a.m. and 3:27 a.m. this morning.
Roberts has been charged with theft. He has one felony conviction, for unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, and he is on probation in that case. Judge George Wright set bail at $5,000; Roberts has not yet been charged with violating probation.
Last June, Welch was arrested for attempted homicide after a suspected gang-related shooting at The Grove at Sweetwater Preserve. The attempted homicide charge was eventually dropped, and a formal charge of accessory after the fact to second-degree murder was filed. Welch entered a plea of nolo contendere to that charge, which carries a prison sentence of 15 years, according to the plea document, and Judge Robert Groeb withheld adjudication of guilt and sentenced Welch to 180 days in jail, with credit for 119 days served, followed by three years of probation.
Welch has been charged with theft. He has one felony conviction (described in the paragraph above) and is on probation in that case. Judge Wright set bail at $5,000; Welch has not yet been charged with violating probation.
Williams has been charged with theft. He has no criminal convictions; he was arrested last June on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and trafficking in MDMA, but that case can no longer be found in the court system. Judge Wright set bail at $5,000.
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
