A Gainesville man was arrested Friday and charged with attempted murder after reportedly attacking a man with a hammer inside the bookstore 2nd & Charles.
John Gilliand, 58, followed the man around the store before pulling out a hammer from his bag and striking him three times in the back of the head, according to the arrest report. On the fourth attempt, the victim reportedly turned around and blocked the hit.
The victim sustained swelling to the back of the head.
According to the arrest report, Gilliand then fled to the bathroom, where he changed clothes and hid the weapon behind a toilet. The victim identified Gilliand as the attacker, and Gainesville Police Department officers confirmed his involvement through video surveillance.
The two men didn’t know each other, according to the report, but Gilliand told police they’d ridden the same bus earlier. He denied attacking the victim.
Gilliand was previously arrested in 2012 on an aggravated assault charge after approaching two girls with what appeared to be a gun under his shirt and threatening them. He later pleaded no contest to the charges, according to court records.
Gilliand is in custody on charges of attempted homicide and tampering with evidence.
Contact Olivia Shehadi at oshehadi@alligator.org. Follow her on X @OliviaS111.
