Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities apprehended James Thomas Edwards III, 24, and Chandrae Israel Perry, 19, following accusations from four women of being threatened with a firearm in the McDonald’s parking lot on East University Avenue.

On January 26 at approximately 6:48 p.m., officers from the Gainesville Police Department responded to a report of individuals in a silver car allegedly brandishing guns at several women. The caller abruptly ended the conversation before providing their name.

Upon arrival, an officer located a silver vehicle in a nearby parking lot and detained its occupants, suspecting their involvement. Although there was a noticeable scent of burnt marijuana, a subsequent search failed to uncover any drugs or weapons.

After separating and interviewing the vehicle’s occupants, one woman recounted an encounter at the McDonald’s lot where she confronted Edwards over a previous disagreement. She alleged that Edwards responded by brandishing a handgun. She supported her claim with a cell phone video showing Edwards extending his arm towards her, though the footage did not clearly reveal a weapon. An audio message from Edwards, where he mentioned always being “strapped,” implying he carries a firearm, was also reviewed by the officer.

A second woman confirmed the initial account, admitting she was terrified upon seeing the gun and scrambled into the driver’s seat, urging her companion to return to the car. Once safely inside, she drove to a nearby location and contacted emergency services.

The other two occupants reportedly said that they saw Edwards pointing a gun at their vehicle, so they ducked down.

Perry reportedly rode by on a scooter with another person while officers were interviewing the occupants of the silver vehicle, and officers learned that they had possibly been involved in the incident, so an officer approached Perry and told him to stop. Perry reportedly said “No” several times and drove away east on University Avenue.

At this point, officers believed Perry had a firearm, and an officer followed him in a patrol vehicle until Perry arrived at the Food Mart (20 NE Waldo Road), where the officer reportedly got out of his patrol vehicle and drew his firearm. Perry eventually surrendered and was placed in handcuffs.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a small amount of marijuana; no firearm was found.

Post Miranda, Perry reportedly said he had driven to McDonald’s to check on his cousin, who was involved in the firearm incident. He later reportedly asked whether Edwards would get in trouble if he had used a BB gun during the incident.

Edwards reportedly turned himself in a few hours later, after learning he was wanted.

Post Miranda, Edwards reportedly said he had been walking into McDonald’s when a car pulled into the parking lot and 6-8 girls jumped out of the vehicle. He said two of them had guns and threatened him with the guns. He said he called the police and left the area, and when the police arrived, a police officer told him to leave the area, so he left until he learned that officers were looking for him. He said he never had a gun or a BB gun.

Edwards said the women who called 911 may have thought his cell phone was a handgun. He said he had not messaged any of the women since the previous day.

Edwards has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has no criminal convictions; he was arrested in July 2025 after a domestic battery incident, but the charges were later dropped. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $60,000, with release conditions of a GPS monitor and a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. except for work and school purposes.

Perry has been charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and resisting an officer without violence. He has no criminal history, and Judge Rawls ordered him released on his own recognizance.

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.