Gainesville Man Threatens School Shooting After Beating Family Member on Christmas Eve

On the night before Christmas, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) Deputy James Leber responded to Oak Park Village in reference to a domestic battery. 

Upon arrival, Leber heard arguing from inside and saw Dennis Jean Laureti, 42, storm out of the home. Leber reported that Laureti “spontaneously said he was in a physical altercation with the victim.”

Laureti claimed the victim, a female family member, “psychologically poked him and verbally abused him.” 

The victim reportedly called Laureti “stupid,” and he broke a chair inside of the home. Laureti told Leber he “got physical” with the victim and “mentioned hair pulling and tussling but denied any extreme violence like punches being thrown.”

After Laureti’s arrest, he claimed the victim punched him first before admitting he struck the victim first with a slap.

Leber reported, “En route to the jail, [Laureti] made multiple violent and concerning statements about buying a firearm, people being pushed until they snap and commit a school shooting, killing himself, killing the victim and witness, beating the victim to death when he was released from jail, and how he should have broken the victim's jaw instead of just slapping her.”

Laureti’s bond is set at $5,000.