Gainesville officers responded to a domestic dispute call at the Polos Apartments on Saturday. Responders determined that the unidentified ex-boyfriend entered the woman’s apartment and physically attacked her, according to the police statement.
The young woman’s father also came to the apartment after the incident. Police report that about 30 minutes after they concluded their investigation, the alleged assailant returned and “made entry.”
There would not be a second alleged attack on the female. According to police, the father shot the ex-boyfriend once in the chest with a handgun. In a statement, the department said, “The father, who was armed with a handgun, fired one shot at the suspect which struck him in the chest.”
The suspect then fled the apartment, and returning officers found him near his car.
Law enforcement said he was declared dead at the scene by EMS despite their efforts to render aid. The Gainesville Police Department reported the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Residents expressed their surprise at the violent incident in their community. One person, identified only as “Cona,” told a local media outlet that everyone there “is so nice…genuine and kind. So, it was one of those things where it’s definitely out of the blue.”
The apartment complex is near the University of Florida campus, and resident Dalton Graham described the area as generally safe.
When he first heard of the shooting, he said he thought it was the wrong complex being reported. “Never really had anything like this, so it was pretty shocking.”
There is a reason that the blockbuster film “Taken” was so well received. Fathers around the world saw themselves in the main character, who was thrust into a violent international human smuggling ring to save his daughter’s life.
Every loving dad realized that what they saw on the screen is what they would do if capable. Nothing matters at that moment except protecting the loved one from those who would do them harm, and the concept of “extreme” does not exist when defending your children.
This Florida dad ran to his daughter when she was allegedly violently attacked by her ex-boyfriend.
The police came and took down names. A report was taken, and they then left to attend to other, no doubt pressing matters. But the father stayed behind, and it was a good thing that he did.
According to police, the suspect had already attacked the young victim once. When he returned, it was reasonable to believe that the attack would only continue.
Only, this time she had her most natural defender to protect her, and that defender was armed. Her father undoubtedly sensed that trouble may return, and he was prepared.
The Gainesville Police Department is investigating, and it is highly likely that there will be no charges emerging from this incident.
After all, one alleged attack had already transpired. Only the armed father stopped a possibly worse situation.
The stories are familiar, but they bear repeating. It is important to recognize that these valiant efforts by armed good guys do not get the attention they so richly deserve. A person was saved — again — by an armed citizen standing up in their defense and making absolutely certain that no further harm would come to them.
And this time, that person was her father. Her natural protector. Parents across the nation need to know about this man who raced to his daughter in her hour of need and was armed and ready when she needed him again. It should be inspiring to all.
