Police arrested a Gainesville man Tuesday after he allegedly committed a drive-by shooting against one of his coworkers over a dispute about him being in the Crips gang, according to a police report.
Devin Freeman, 23, was charged with attempted felony murder and discharging a firearm in public. He is being held at the Alachua County Jail without bond, according to court documents.
The Crips are a large gang that primarily operates in Los Angeles, California, according to the US Department of Justice. Members typically wear blue clothing.
Several people contacted the Gainesville Police Department at about 6:09 p.m. Monday to inform the police of a drive by shooting at the Cascades apartments, according to the police report.
Witnesses said a small, dark colored car was sitting still in the street when Freeman got out of the vehicle and started arguing with his coworker about 100 feet away, according to the police report.
Freeman then got back in the car before shooting four shots at his coworker before driving off. Freeman’s coworker ran back inside and checked for any bullet wounds but found none, according to the police report.
Freeman’s coworker told police he suspected Freeman had a gun because Freeman was trying to lure him to the car and would only talk from far away.
The coworker didn’t call the police but was later found at his girlfriend's apartment. He told police Freeman was his coworker at a golf course, according to the police report.
On Oct. 21, Freeman was drinking and told his coworker at work he was a member of the Crips. Freeman’s coworker didn’t believe this and called him out for it, which infuriated Freeman. The two men got into two fights that day during their shift, according to the police report.
Once Freeman’s coworker got off work, Freeman and his girlfriend, Riley Watkins, confronted him in the parking lot of the golf course where a third fight almost happened after an argument. Once the two left, the coworker noticed his back windshield had a rock thrown through it, according to the police report.
Freeman used Watkin’s phone to call his coworker outside for the shooting, according to the police report.
The coworker told police Freeman previously gave him a ride home, went out with him to a nightclub and that he’s gone to Freeman’s apartment before, according to the police report.
On Tuesday, Freeman was placed under arrest at a traffic stop after the coworker identified him via photo on Sunday. The gun was in plain view of the officer, according to the police report. Freeman had bruising on his left eye, which is consistent with what his coworker told the police about the fights, according to the police report.
Watkins was in the car and later told police at the GPD station she was the one who was driving the car during the shooting. She said she had no idea he would shoot a gun and thought the two men were only going to fist fight, according to the police report.
Freeman doesn’t have any prior arrests in Alachua County.
Contact Jordan Ramos at jramos@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @JordanR68971799.
Jordan Ramos is a fourth-year journalism major who spends his time singing in two different choirs and his a cappella group.
