Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An early morning disturbance at Oak Park Mobile Home Park has led to the arrest of two individuals, Luis Alberto Lopez-Garcia, 32, and Oved Vazquez Ortiz, 28, following reports of gunfire.

Shortly after 4:25 a.m. on January 1, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies rushed to the scene at Oak Park Mobile Home Park, located at 4000 SW 47th Street, responding to multiple reports of gunshots. Witnesses described a Hispanic male brandishing a firearm, with one account noting the man’s intoxication and the presence of several children in the vicinity.

Upon arrival, deputies observed Ortiz standing outside a residence. Lopez-Garcia, positioned nearby, was allegedly surrounded by spent shell casings and several minors. A deputy reported that one child seemed to indicate Ortiz, who was partially concealed behind furniture, as the person of interest. The scene was reportedly littered with alcohol bottles.

With the whereabouts of the firearm unknown, deputies attempted to detain both men. Ortiz initially cooperated but soon resisted, prompting deputies to subdue him on the ground before securing him with handcuffs.

Meanwhile, Lopez-Garcia was repeatedly instructed to keep his hands visible, yet he allegedly continued to reach into his pockets. To ensure no weapons were present, deputies moved him to the front of a patrol car for a pat-down. He was instructed to place his hands on the vehicle’s hood, with deputies demonstrating the proper stance. A sergeant reportedly warned Lopez-Garcia that failure to comply would result in arrest.

When deputies began patting down Lopez-Garcia for weapons, he allegedly removed his hands from the hood of the vehicle and turned; he was placed under arrest at that point.

Deputies found three spent 9mm shell casings in front of the home, and a fourth shell casing was reportedly found during a search of Lopez-Garcia.

A witness reportedly said Ortiz was the man who had been seen with a gun immediately after the gunshots were heard.

Deputies noted that Ortiz was “obviously intoxicated.” Ortiz reportedly stated spontaneously, “The gun’s not even mine.” Post Miranda, Ortiz reportedly said they had been drinking all night, and a friend gave him the gun to hold while the friend went to a club; he was unable to provide the friend’s full name. Ortiz reportedly admitted to shooting the gun at least three times in the direction of a bush. He said at first that his friends told him to shoot the gun, but he later said he shot it to prevent Lopez-Garcia from fighting someone else.

Ortiz reportedly described the gun and gave deputies permission to search the home, but deputies were unable to find the gun; Ortiz reportedly said a third person may have taken it, but he did not identify that person.

Lopez-Garcia has been charged with resisting an officer without violence. His local criminal history goes back to 2016, and he has two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent). Bail will be set tomorrow.

Ortiz has been charged with resisting an officer without violence, discharging a weapon in a residential neighborhood, and discharging a firearm under the influence of alcohol. He has no local criminal history. Bail will be set 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.