18-year-old Ocala man arrested with stolen gun after early morning shooting on W. University Avenue

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Isaiah Earl Williams, 18, of Ocala, was arrested early this morning and charged with grand theft of a weapon and possession of a weapon by a felon under 24 years of age while police were investigating shots fired in the 1000 block of W. University Avenue; one person was reportedly grazed by a bullet, but the victim was not located at the time the police report was filed.

At approximately 3:49 a.m., officers with the Gainesville Police Department were dealing with a large crowd in the 1000 block of W. University Avenue when they heard approximately 15 gunshots. Officers went to the scene and reportedly found cars that had been struck by gunfire and a victim grazed by a bullet. A witness reportedly pointed to a group walking away and said that some of the shooters were in that group; the witness added that “the (black man) in the black shirt had a gun in his waistband.”

Officers made contact with the group and a pat-down of Williams allegedly found a loaded Glock pistol in his waistband. The arresting officer noted that the shooting victim left “in chaos” and had not been found at the time of the report and had not shown up at any local hospital.

The gun was reportedly loaded with 14 rounds and was reported stolen in Ocala in 2020.

After the Miranda disclosure, Williams reportedly denied any involvement in the shooting.

Williams reportedly had multiple juvenile delinquency convictions as a juvenile in Marion County, including a car theft in 2019. He is being held without bail until his initial hearing Monday morning.

Articles about arrests are based on law enforcement reports. The charges listed are from the arrest report and/or court records and are merely accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.