Shooting Victim Sentenced for Domestic Battery
Update | Oct 31
This article originally referenced Kelvin Baker's arrest for allegedly shooting Jamari Kinsler, however, he was later exonerated. This article was updated to reflect Kinsler's sentencing.
On October 13, Jamari Kinsler, 21, the gunshot victim in the early July shooting at Cedar Grove, was sentenced to one year of probation following a no contest plea and conviction for one count of misdemeanor domestic battery.
Facing up to one year in jail, Kinsler took a plea deal that was accepted by Judge Susan Miller-Jones.
Initially, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers arrested Kelvin Baker for homicide under the notion that he shot Kinsler, however, the State Attorney's Office later dropped the charge. Now, Xzavier Hawkins faces one count of attempted 2nd degree murder for allegedly shooting Kinsler, along with a count of possessing a weapon with a prior juvenile conviction. Baker still faces one felony count of grand theft of a firearm and is named as an accomplice in Hawkin's police report.
Kinsler was shot on July 2, but appeared to make a swift physical recovery, as he was in a condition to commit battery against a woman on August 9.
The arrest report states the victim found messages from another woman on Kinsler’s phone. They got into an argument where he punched her in the jaw and forehead, causing her to fall and hit her head on the floor.
The victim told GPD that she lost consciousness and woke up with blurred vision. She went to the hospital seeking medical attention.
The victim had visible injuries consistent with being punched, police reported.
While police were interviewing the victim in the hospital, Kinsler reportedly came inside looking for her.
Following his detainment, Kinsler told police the victim hit him first and claimed he only went to the hospital to follow up with treatment for his gunshot injury.
Police were reportedly informed by medical staff that Kinsler walked in specifically asking where the victim was.
Kinsler had a bond of $20,000 but spent over two months in the Alachua County Jail because he couldn't post it, court records show.
Under the conditions of his probation, Kinsler cannot make direct or indirect contact with the victim. He'll be required to complete programs for batterers intervention, substance abuse and mental health.
