(This story has been updated with additional information.)
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is warning those in the area of the Hills of Santa Fe neighborhood in northwest Gainesville to shelter in place and lock their doors while law enforcement searches for an armed suspect.
According to an ACSO social media post, the suspect is described as a 14-year-old Black male, standing about 5-feet tall. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt and orange or red basketball shorts.
Alachua County Sheriff’s Office vehicles speed down Northwest 98th Street on Tuesday evening while searching for an armed suspect in northwest Gainesville.
“If you live in the area, please shelter in place and keep your doors locked as deputies attempt to locate the suspect. The suspect is wanted for a violent felony crime,” the post says.
Residents are urged to call 911 if they see the suspect, or dial 352-955-1818, option 5, if they see anything suspicious.
ACSO vehicles could be seen around 6 p.m. stationed outside several neighborhoods in the area, including the Hills of Santa Fe and Meadowbrook on Northwest 98th Street and Countryside and Wellington Place on Northwest 39th Avenue. A helicopter also could be seen circling the area.
A concert scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at nearby Meadowbrook Elementary School has been canceled due to the search.
In a 7:20 p.m. update on Facebook, the sheriff’s office posted that the “scene is still very active and the suspect is still outstanding.”
K-9 units and SWAT team members are on the scene, according to the post, and the ACSO Aviation Unit and the Alachua County Fire Rescue Drone Team are assisting in the search.
“We thank all of the residents in the immediate area for their patience as we attempt to peacefully resolve this incident.”
(This story will be updated as more information becomes available.)
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: ACSO searches for armed suspect in NW Gainesville
