Prosecutors Pursue Gun Charges Against North Central Florida High School Student
On November 10, the Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office formally filed charges against an 18-year-old North Central Florida high school student, Devon Oliver.
Oliver faces charges of carrying a concealed firearm, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a firearm with a removed serial number and resisting an officer without violence.
On October 22, Gainesville Police Department Officer Mateo Rico arrested Oliver and charged him with resisting an officer without violence, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated juvenile and possessing an altered firearm, but prosecutors later amended the charges.
Rico’s arrest report states the following:
"[Oliver] was observed by LEO traveling northbound in the southbound lane on S Main St, approaching SE 16th Ave, while operating a black electronic scooter, committing a traffic infraction (WARN#57279). [Oliver] was wearing a black skull cap, black windbreaker jacket, black windbreaker pants, and black slides…
I attempted to detain [Oliver] for the traffic infraction and conduct a traffic stop inside Arbor Park Apartments (309 SW 16th Ave), in front of apartment 141. As I turned the overhead lights (red and blue LEDs) on my clearly marked patrol vehicle (with GPD insignia), [Oliver] made eye contact with me [while] standing with his scooter.
As I opened my car door, wearing a full police uniform, [Oliver] began running westbound through the complex. I yelled, ‘Police stop,’ but [Oliver] ignored my lawful commands and instead turned around and began running eastbound through the complex while clutching the right side of his clothing. I communicated over the radio that [Oliver] was actively fleeing on foot from me, while clutching something through the right side of his clothing. Based on my training and experience, this behavior has been consistent with subjects carrying firearms and trying to keep them concealed while running.
I observed [Oliver] running towards the back of apartment 324, and then again observed [Oliver] running eastbound through the complex, where another responding officer saw him turn northbound in the complex and continue running. After losing sight of [Oliver], I looked inside a breezeway of one of the buildings, where I located [him] sitting on the second floor of the stairwell in front of apartment 401 and 402.
LEO traced [Oliver’s] flight path through the apartment complex where he fled on foot and located the following: A pair of black slides on the pavement and a 9mm Palmetto firearm with a purple rubber band, a white rubber band wrapped around the grip (with the serial number section cut off) in the shrubs alongside building 3 adjacent to apartment 324. It was obvious that [Oliver] was in possession of an altered firearm by having the serial number removed from the firearm. The 9mm Palmetto had an extended magazine containing 21 ammunition rounds and one in the chamber, totaling 22 9mm rounds.
On the pistol itself, the bottom section of the frame towards the front of the barrel had been obviously removed (which, to note, is where the serial number would be located).
A [Juvenile Justice Information] search of [Oliver] confirmed that he is an Adjudicated Delinquent from Alachua County Court Case 01-2023-CJ-654-A, on 04/10/2024, for ‘WEAPON OFFENSE - UNDER 18 YOA UNLAWFUL POSS FIREARM (M1) Firearm Involved’ reference ID 4920007.
Post-Miranda, [Oliver] stated he purchased the firearm from an unknown white man for $1500 several months ago. [Oliver] stated that while fleeing from LEO inside the apartment complex, he discarded the firearm into the shrubs due to the fear of being shot by police. [Oliver] stated he did not remove or alter the serial number on the firearm; he only added the purple and white rubber bands to the firearm."
According to the Alachua County Jail, as of this morning Oliver’s bond is still set at $105,000, meaning it hasn’t been affected by his charges getting amended.
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