A Gainesville man died from gunshot wounds early Sunday morning after attending a party near Copeland Park in the city of Alachua.
Kionne Atkins, a 19-year-old Gainesville resident, was found by Alachua Department Police deputies with gunshot wounds to his torso around 4:30 a.m., a news release read. He was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital where he died from his injuries.
As of Sunday at 11:30 a.m., APD is not aware of who is responsible or why the incident occurred.
“Our detectives are still following up on leads and putting together and sifting through evidence,” APD spokesperson Jesse Sandusky said. “We don’t have a motive or a suspect at the time.”
Deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, Gainesville Police Department and High Springs Police Department all arrived before the shooting to help disperse the large crowd, the release read. When multiple shots were fired, APD deputies traveled through the crowd and found Atkins bleeding inside a white Honda.
Deputies immediately performed first aid using their trauma kits until Alachua Fire Rescue responded. The incident is estimated to have been 15 minutes before Atkins was transported to the hospital, Sandusky said.
After multiple shots were heard, the large group began to disperse. Sandusky said no other attendees were known to be injured, and no arrests were made.
“Once the shots rang out the crowd started clearing out on their own,” Sandusky said.
Gun violence has plagued Gainesville and Alachua County since the beginning of the pandemic, with numbers surpassing the city’s highest reports of 53 gunshot injuries or deaths in 2020.
Atkins had a prior history with Alachua County Sheriff's Office. This year, he was arrested for fraud, burglary and firearm theft, court records show. In 2020, he was arrested for drug possession, theft of a firearm and vehicle, firing a weapon in a public or on residential property, burglary and resisting arrest. All charges but one petty theft charge in March were dropped or withheld.
APD is asking anyone who has information regarding the shooting to contact 352-393-7710 or 352-393-7659. For anonymity, contact the Alachua County Crime Stoppers at 352-372-7867
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Contact Isabella at idouglas@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @Ad_Scribendum.
Isabella Douglas is a fourth-year journalism major and the Fall 2023 editor-in-chief for The Alligator. She has previously worked as the digital managing editor, metro editor, criminal justice reporter and as a news assistant. When she isn't reporting, she can be found reorganizing her bookshelf and adding books to her ever-growing TBR.
