Shooter Not Yet Identified Days After Man was Shot in the Head in Front of Simon's Nightclub
Updated May 6, 2025: Two years after Kentaris Bryant’s death, the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) has still not found the shooter.
The headline of this article was changed on May 8, 2023.
On May 6, at 1:08 a.m., shots were fired on 100 South Main St. Based on a preliminary investigation done by police, this incident started as a physical confrontation between the shooter and the victim which escalated to gunfire. Paramedics and police arrived at the scene within minutes. A crowd gathered around the man as paramedics were treating him. Police backed the crowd up and put caution tape around the area. Paramedics treated the man for ten minutes before he was placed in the ambulance and sent to the hospital.
The suspect was reportedly wearing brown pants and a letterman jacket. It was later reported the suspect was wearing a dark hoodie. Police attempted to follow the suspect throughout the night, however, according to an officer standing at Bo Diddley Plaza this morning, they have yet to apprehend them. The officer and his partner were present for a car showing and concert being held in the area.
Bystanders reported seeing a group running into a white four-door car. One man at the scene who GnvInfo spoke to took note of the young age of the group, saying, “I saw five kids run into the car, like young teenagers, twelve, thirteen.” Police got one call about a silver Audi passing down SE 2nd Place. Another man placed a call about a silver SUV speeding past his house after he heard three gunshots.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the victim was in cardiac arrest and breathing, but not responsive. One officer inquired over the radio if the victim had both shoes on. According to the officer who responded to his question, the victim’s shoes were taken off on the scene and given to his girlfriend. Shortly after the victim arrived at Shands they were pronounced dead.
Police initiate crowd control (GnvInfo)
Gainesville Police watch a concert at Bo Diddley Plaza the day following the shooting as shooter remains at large (GnvInfo)
On May 6, 5:40 p.m., GnvInfo spoke to an officer over the phone regarding this case.
Q: Was anyone else injured at the scene? I heard reports on social media about someone shooting indiscriminately at Simon's and I wanted to check the validity of that.
A: No it was just one victim, now deceased.
Q: Do we know what the motive was yet?
A: No, detectives are still looking into that although the preliminary investigation revealed there was an altercation prior.
Q: Do you have any leads on who the suspect is yet?
A: Detectives are looking, but they haven't yet provided that information.
Q: Do you have any information on the victim?
A: Yeah, we have their information, the family has been notified.
Q: Do you think the Gainesville Police will find the perpetrator in a short amount of time?
A: I mean, they're actively working on the case and investigation as far as leads and all that. I don't know the time frame, we don't put these investigations on a time frame. If you look up our website you can find the press release, the actual press release on there, if you needed it or whatnot.
As of May 8, 5:00 p.m., according to the GPD Office of Public Information, the shooter has not yet been identified and no arrests have been made.
Police Audio:
Source: Broadcastify
1. Some audio quality is poor and there may be mistakes. Codes have been put in to flag possible inaccuracies:
(GARBLED): Cannot make the audio out.
(?): Have an idea of what they're saying but there are doubts.
2. A lot of audio contains police code. Police code will be marked in bold.
Disclaimer: Audio that references incidents other than this have not been transcribed and are disregarded from this transcript.
Audio 1: 1:05 a.m. - 1:35 a.m.
03:16 We got shots fired sounds like it's coming south of 100 west.
04:09 Alpha 6 we have one down gunshot wound to the head 100 South Main.
(Fast talking and yelling)
04:36 Give me the EMS Main West University.
04:48 They're in route Simon's.
04:53 They went eastbound I'll say that.
05:18 I'm at 200 East.
05:23 What is your location?
05:26 I'm at 200 Southeast 2nd Ave I have no sign of him.
05:57 Cardiac arrest give him CPR.
06:17 Across from Simon's.
06:29 What was he wearing? The suspect?
06:32 Six reference bystander said he was last headed east from 100 South Main bravo mike (Black male) brown letterman jacket, we never had eyes on him.
06:50 East of us from 1st Street were on 1st Street and 1st Ave right now get him all the way to the library.
07:44 31 Engine 1 gunshot wound at 8 South Main Street Simon's nightclub the patient had a gunshot wound to the head.
08:09 EMS is in route.
08:26 We need to block main and university and also first ave and main
08:51 Suspect was last scene wearing a letterman jacket (GARBLED) southeast of this location according to security inside Simon's
09:11 Letterman jacket black pants going southeast of location
09:20 Alpha 6 spoke to bystanders saw a group of bravo mike's running into a white car white four door around 300 Southeast 1st Street
09:33 Correct at about 100 Southeast 1st street.
09:38 (GARBLED) CPR.
09:49 Where would you like us to respond to?
10:11 537 Where would you like the ASO K9 to go?
10:14 Out to where we are by the admin building.
10:36 What's your 20?
10:49 Directly east of Simon's
11:01 10-4 in another call we have a silver Audi pass down Southeast 2nd place. The arcade bar advised they have a camera that points across the street.
11:54 (GARBLED) Trauma alert Shands.
12:12 If anybody's available channel 2 have them start checking plate readers for a white Audi in downtown area.
12:52 Send us 2 more units for crowd control we'll be at 100 Southeast Main.
13:55 527 I believe I have the suspect's shoe or somebody else who was involved immediately east of the crime scene.
17:06 Can you give me patient information.
17:17 1300 West where do you want me to go.
17:26 By the old courthouse building.
17:35 You turn south on Main Street you'll see us.
17:58 (GARBLED) the hospital.
19:28 Patient tagged for transport on route to Shands.
19:59 Two units at the hospital tell them to wash his hands please.
21:28 Suspect is gonna be at (GARBLED) with dark hoodie going southeast.
21:43 Dark hoodie going southeast.
23:15 We have in route to Shands one traumatic arrest gunshot wound on 1 26.
24:06 Please be advised we have notified Shands.
24:37 31 has arrived at the hospital at 1:28.
28:47 Rescue 33 be advised cardiac arrest we do have CPR in progress.
29:27 We did have one subject that called in, said he heard three gunshots and saw a silver SUV go past his house.
31:26 We're an approximate 100 blocks from where they saw the vehicle leaving at a high rate of speed.
Audio 2: 1:35 a.m. - 2:05 a.m.
01:52 Unresponsive patient.
01:57 Can you advise if he's breathing.
02:13 Patient is breathing cardiac arrest.
02:19 EMS is on scene be advised this is not a cardiac arrest.
07:20 Start a 2nd rescue we got a 2nd patient responsive, probably signal 19
07:55 Lifeline Bot: Rescue 35 unconscious patient 2823 Northeast 16th Terrace.
08:08 (GARBLED) One of the units at the hospital.
08:22 (GARBLED) the victim.
08:26 10-4 they're actively looking on him.
08:29 Did he have both shoes on?
08:36 No apparently his shoes were taken off on scene and were given to the girlfriend.
08:42 The shoes were taken off and given to the girlfriend?
08:45 Yes sir.
08:50 Its weird which is why i wanted to know, appreciate it thank you.
09:31 Have we yet identified the individual?
09:41 Not that I'm aware of.
10:11 EMS is requesting are assistance at 2823 North 16th Terrace 2 unresponsive patents reference single 19.
12:19 (GARBLED) Call me back and let me know so we can get a positive ID on him.
14:08 Any units that can clear for 22 fox trot 1600 west?
15:02 0745 you have any takers?
15:05 (GARBLED)
15:11 Lets call PD (?) that's free and available in the area to respond to (?)
15:21 We have one detained Northwest (GARBLED) reference single zero.
15:28 10-4 One detained... What's your 20?
15:38 Across from State Attorney's Office 1st and 1st.
17:00 FHP(?) doing something at Main and University (GARBLED)
17:32 10-4 call out our dogs in reference to an article search.
17:51 10-44 we got a vehicle fleeing from State Attorney's Office.
18:02 Black 2 door(?)
18:15 Northbound coming up on 8th avenue making right head turn 8th Avenue east bound flew threw a red light high rate of speed trying to catch up, not sure if it's gonna be on (GARBLED) 35 or not.
19:01 Northbound 9th Northbound 9th street 28th Ave high rate of speed.
19:28 Trying to catch up not sure if (GARBLED) 35 or not.
19:38 How do we think it's involved?
19:43 Fleeing from State Attorney's Office.
19:51 You don't have anything to tie that to the 35.
20:02 Heading Northbound not pursuing, pulled off to the right about 1700 blocks.
20:58 10-46 the vehicle is unoccupied.
21:22 (GARBLED) Alpha 6 one Black Kia.
21:33 (GARBLED) Black Chevrolet reference single zero.
21:46 Stop right there somebodies in the (GARBLED)
22:02 She's unrelated, unrelated.
23:33 Vehicle fled from us downtown on single 35 call.
26:45 Lifeline bot: Engine 28, Rescue 28, vehicle accident Northwest 200 50th Street and Northwest 5th Avenue.
27:50 For now evening shift will hold till told otherwise.
28:09 Rescue 28 responding Northwest 50th Street Northwest 5th Avenue.
28:35 Were getting an influx of calls and its a bunch of old men at this point whoever is downtown is gonna be down there (GARBLED) 1100 west so anything thats not priority.
