C.J. Gish
Two men were arrested on attempted murder charges following a Tuesday night drive-by shooting in Gainesville.
According to a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) release, Jacquez Hill, 18, and Terrex Thagard, 19, were arrested and charged with one count of attempted murder. It marks the third straight day of shootings in Gainesville.
The arrests came after GPD officers investigated a shooting in the area of 1100 NE 23rd Ave. on Tuesday at 10 p.m. Officers were in the area when they heard the gunfire and received calls of gunshots.
When officers arrived at the scene, they located an abandoned vehicle in the roadway surrounded by shell casings. Hill and Thagard walked from behind a nearby residence after the officers arrived and claimed ownership of the vehicle.
GPD officers were then notified that a gunshot victim was dropped off at a nearby emergency room and when officers and GPD detectives arrived at the hospital, it was determined the victim was shot at 1100 NE 23rd Ave. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
During the GPD investigation, officers located a firearm and ski masks in the area where Hill and Thagard were contacted in.
Following multiple interviews by detectives, Hill and Thagard were arrested. Detectives are still attempting to identify a third suspect in the shooting.
According to the GPD, Tuesday’s shooting appears to be related to the Monday shooting that took place at 6:40 p.m. in the area of 2200 NE 15th St. In that shooting, an occupant(s) fired more than 20 shots at a juvenile male victim and the victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Early Monday morning, three people were injured in two separate downtown shootings.
Anyone with information related to the Monday and Tuesday shootings is asked to call GPD detective Stephen Dose at 352-393-7682. You can remain anonymous by reporting tips to the Alachua County Crime Stoppers at 352-372-7867.