Updating Weekend News: Gainesville police arrest five suspects in armed robbery

Although shootings, shots fired, and armed burglary incidents have more than doubled in 2020 in the City of Gainesville and surrounding communities, this past week showed a marked decline in these occurrences, with the Gainesville Police Department receiving only 2 calls over the past 10 days in reference to similar incidents. 

Officers from the Gainesville Police Department responded to an armed robbery Friday, September 18th at approximately 1:31 AM on the 2600 block of NW 6th Street. The victim was walking on the street when approached by a vehicle with five suspects who exited the vehicle, pointed a handgun at and physically assaulted the victim, and then robbed the victim of their cell phone and money. 

After arriving to the scene, GPD officers put a BOLO (A broadcast issued from a law enforcement agency to others, typically containing information about a wanted suspect, a person of interest, or a related vehicle) out for the vehicle and began tracking the victim’s cell phone. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle, conducted a traffic stop, and found the victim’s cell phone inside the vehicle.

All five suspects were taken into custody with multiple charges from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to include a stolen firearm, narcotics, and possible stolen vehicle.

The suspects were identified as: Jayveon Hall, 20, Da’varic Hawkins, 19, Tyreese Speed, 21, Lee Willis, 20, and a juvenile.

Subsequent charges were: Hall (armed robbery and speeding), and Hawkins and Juvenile (w/Principal in 1st Degree). All suspects, except the Juvenile, are currently in the Columbia County Jail. 

Then on Saturday, September 19th at approximately 4:55PM, GPD officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of SW 27th Street (Lexington Crossing) in reference to an armed home invasion robbery. The victim, staying at a friend’s apartment, was confronted by a suspect who entered the apartment and pointed a handgun at them. The suspect stole money from the apartment before fleeing. There are no suspects at this time. GPD detectives are following up on several leads.