Gainesville Police arrested four Gainesville residents, including a man defending his home, in connection to a home invasion that led to the death of a woman this week.
Alderious White, 28, and Jason Ward, 38, were arrested for the killing of D’Halani Armstrong, according to arrest reports. White shot Armstrong after he broke into the home at about 7 a.m. at Northeast 16th Terrace, about a quarter of a mile away from Satchel’s Pizza, Tuesday. She later died at UF Health Shands Hospital.
Ward also held Armstrong’s uncle, 44-year-old homeowner Dovico Miles, at gunpoint as two of the house’s occupants hid in a bathtub, according to court records; one of them was 10 years old.
Miles managed to disarm Ward, but the gun went off during the struggle. He then shot White as he fled into the front yard, when he recognized him as the “son of a longtime friend,” according to the report.
Miles told police he hid his guns and Ward’s gun outside after the incident, according to court records. Police arrested Miles for evidence tampering and possessing a weapon as a convicted felon.
Miles was booked in the Alachua County jail Tuesday on a bond of $150,000. His criminal history dates back to the 1990s with convictions for offenses including theft, battery, weapon and drug possession.
Both Ward and White were treated at Shands before they were booked in the Alachua County jail.
Ward and White are being held on bonds of $6,000,000 each for premeditated murder, robbery with a deadly weapon and firearm possession as convicted felons. White has prior weapons, drug and battery convictions. Ward has prior robbery and theft convictions
The fourth suspect arrested in the case, 30-year-old Tiara Luckie, allegedly dropped Ward and White off at the house; her arrest report identifies Ward as White’s uncle. After Ward was shot, she dropped him off at the home of a relative, according to court records, before fleeing. She now faces an accessory charge for her role in the incident.
Luckie was booked into the Alachua County jail on a bond of $250,000 Wednesday.
Contact Omar at oateyah@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @OAteyah.
Omar Ateyah is a third-year journalism student and the Alligator's Race and Equity reporter. He previously served as the Alligator's crime reporter and as a news assistant on the Metro Desk. He enjoys going on long, thoughtful walks.
