“Circumstantial Evidence:” Jury Trial Approaches in LIT Nightclub Attempted Murder Case
Rance James Shannon Jr., 35, is set to take his attempted murder case to trial in two months.
Arrest Report
On August 31, 2024, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to the LIT nightclub (211 W. University Ave) after receiving reports of a stabbing.
According to the arrest report, officers arrived on the scene to find Christopher Abreu with numerous severe stab wounds and lacerations. Officers reportedly observed a large amount of blood on the wall and floor of the nightclub stairwell platform.
Abreu was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Medical staff confirmed he had lacerations to his internal organs, resulting in the removal of his spleen.
Detective Matthew Quinn reported, “GPD developed [Rance Shannon] as a possible suspect for this incident. [Shannon] is a muscular build white male with a large beard. [Abreu] positively identified [Shannon] in a photo line-up as the person who attacked him at LIT club.”
Abreu told police that he was on the dance floor of the club when he and Shannon got into an argument. Abreu said Shannon told him, “You can’t whoop me,” in a Hispanic accent, before attacking him. The fight was stopped by other patrons, and Abreu went towards the stairs to leave. Abreu said Shannon then hit him “hard” in his back. The two began to fight, and Abreu said he punched Shannon numerous times along with a knee strike. The arrest report states Abreu “began to notice that he was covered in blood” and ran out of the bar towards police, where he received life-saving care for his wounds. Abreu reportedly did not recall seeing Shannon with the knife.
A witness told police he helped break up the fight before Abreu went outside. The witness reportedly identified the suspect as a “muscular white male, wearing a black shirt, blue jeans, and a hat.”
Another witness told police he “noticed a fight break out” and reportedly described one of the involved parties as a “muscular white male, wearing a black shirt, blue jeans, and a hat.”
On September 1, 2024, the Combined Communications Center reportedly "received a phone call from an anonymous person who stated their ‘partner’ observed a male at [Shannon’s residence] burning clothes that [were] covered in blood the night prior. The caller stated that they heard the male say that he had already killed a man ‘last night’ and also that he was going to kill a man with a knife. The caller described the male as a white man but does not know his name. The caller stated that there is a white Jeep parked outside of the male's residence.”
Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to this call for service but were unaware of Shannon’s involvement in the investigation. The report states deputies “made contact with [Shannon] and his girlfriend, who were exiting the residence to get into [his] white Jeep Cherokee… [Shannon] had a visible black eye, muscular build, a large beard and speaks Spanish as well as English. [Shannon] didn't state where the black eye came from [and] denied being in a fight or burning anything.”
Shannon showed deputies his backyard, and they reportedly "confirmed [he] has a burn pit."
On September 4, 2024, Quinn responded to the nightclub and spoke with the owner. While there, they found a credit card with Shannon’s name on the floor near the location of the initial fight.
On September 6, 2024, Ocala Police Department officers arrested Shannon on a warrant for attempted third-degree murder, and he was transferred to the Alachua County Jail four days later. Prosecutors later upgraded the charge to attempted second-degree murder and added an additional count of aggravated battery.
Shannon has a criminal history, and he’s done time in prison, but his record indicates more of a tendency towards property crime than violent crime.
Shannon is held in the Alachua County Jail without bond, with prosecutors filing a successful pretrial detention motion.
Shannon’s Letter to Judge Groeb
In January 2026, Shannon wrote a letter to Judge Robert Groeb, wherein he pleaded his innocence.
“I hope this finds you well and in the best of spirits. I am writing to you in the hopes of bringing your attention to my case and situation.
I was arrested as the most likely suspect in the hopes of building a case afterwards instead of before. As I told police, I was attacked the night of the incident, not 10-15 mins from my arrival at the bar to have a drink with my cousin, who was on leave from the army. Not until receiving my discovery was I aware that not only was I attacked once, but 3 times by who it turns out is an MMA fighter who the club owner says is well known around the bar and club scene as a troublemaker starting fights wherever he goes.
To be clear, it’s not that I don’t remember these attacks due to inebriation, as I had only just received my first drink. It was as if I awoke to being pummeled on my way from the bar. At some point I was knocked unconscious and snapped back during the third attack. The so-called victim states he kicked and kneed my head and face throughout the attacks, (At some point breaking my nose), and states at no time did he see me or anyone else with a weapon, and [he] doesn’t know when or by whom his injuries were caused. He also states the person he was attacking was yelling with a strong Hispanic accent and that it was clear Spanish was his first language. (I am not Hispanic). I strongly believe he attacked me thinking I was someone else as he was obviously not in his right mind, possibly due to his blood alcohol content of 0.42. (According to his medical records).
The police arrested me on the basis of 'anonymous' phone calls, which may be enough for an arrest, but are inadmissible at trial as I have the right to have my accuser. I’ve requested my [public defender] to suppress said call but he’s refused stating that he didn’t think they’d come up. During a photo lineup, the victim eliminates all other photos, then points to mine asking if I was hispanic, and after another look states he’s about ‘80-85%’ sure I ‘might’ be the one he had an altercation with…
His friend claims to have seen him get stabbed in the shoulder from behind and that security separated us, however, according to his medical records, he did not sustain injuries anywhere near his shoulder and security states the victim was separated from a black man with dreads, making this witness obviously uncredible. All in all, witnesses describe [the] ‘victim’ fighting with four or more people throughout the night.
My entire case is based on circumstantial evidence, inadmissible hearsay, and an alleged admission to a layman to which there is no proof… There is no DNA, no weapon, no footage and no credible witnesses. Zero evidence that can point to me or anyone else having caused the victim’s injuries.
I know you can only assume who I am from my record, but I can assure you, I’ve come a long way from the man I once was. I’ve completely changed my life, and even found God. I’ve maintained full time employment since my re-entering into society, and at my third and most recent job received a raise every 90 days until my arrest. [I was] working there for 14 months. I had a good relationship with the halfway house workers where I completed the last year of my sentence, and one even wrote a character witness letter attesting to my good nature, which should be with my [public defender]... The director, Ms. Vernon, even offered to house me if I were given a pretrial release… Thank you for your time and consideration, any help will be tremendously appreciated.”
Shannon’s Bar Complaint Against David R. Cianci
Attached to Shannon’s letter to Groeb is an additional complaint letter against his public defender, David R. Cianci, which he mailed to the Florida Bar:
Shannon alleged that Cianci “denied [his] request for a speedy trial, stating he had over 90 other cases and couldn't prepare for [his] in 6 months.”
Shannon accused Cianci of extensively delaying depositions and not reading his letter, stating his “excuse was that he has 100 other cases and doesn't have time.”
Shannon called Cianci “incapable” of providing him with proper representation “due to his ridiculously over-bearing case load.” Shannon indicated that he doesn't blame Cianci personally.
Recent Motions
On May 5, 2026, prosecutors filed a notice of intent to seek enhanced penalties against Shannon as a prison release reoffender if he is convicted.
On May 15, 2026, Cianci motioned to withdraw from the case. Judge Robert Groeb granted the motion and appointed Shannon regional counsel.
If everything proceeds as scheduled, there will be a pretrial conference on August 4, followed by a trial status conference on August 18, followed by jury selection on August 24.
If found guilty, Shannon could be sentenced to 30 years in prison.
