A 38-year-old attempted murder suspect was arrested by Gainesville police after barricading himself inside a local residence for several hours.
On Monday, at approximately 9:45 p.m., Gainesville Police Department officers were dispatched to the Circle K gas station located at 3838 N Main Street in Gainesville in reference to an individual who had been stabbed. Upon arrival, officers located an adult victim lying on the ground who had sustained multiple stab wounds that were non-fatal, according to GPD.
Officers learned from the victim that the stabbing had occurred in the area of NE 12th Street and Highland Court. A K-9 officer was dispatched to this area and located a possible crime scene.
GPD stated that detectives arrived at the crime scene to conduct an investigation, and probable cause was developed for the arrest of a suspect, identified as Torrance Terrell Lee.
At approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to a home in the 2900 block of NE 12th Street in Gainesville in reference to a domestic disturbance. The homeowners had called 911 to report that their son, Lee, was behaving erratically. Officers immediately recognized Lee’s name in connection with the stabbing incident, and they rushed to the residence to take Lee into custody, according to GPD.
Once officers arrived at the home, Lee barricaded himself in a bedroom, and the officers believed that he was in possession of a knife. The home’s residents were ordered to vacate for their safety, and GPD’s Negotiation Response Team arrived at the home.
The negotiators attempted to communicate with Lee for several hours. GPD’s SWAT team eventually arrived on scene and took over for the officers. At approximately 11:10 p.m., the SWAT team deployed gas, entered the bedroom, and detained Lee in handcuffs.
Lee was arrested and transported to a local hospital due to exposure to the gas. After being medically cleared, Lee was transported to Alachua County Jail. He is facing felony charges for attempted homicide and resisting an officer without violence.
The Gainesville Police Department released a statement following Lee’s arrest: “The Gainesville Police Department is grateful for the peaceful resolution. We would like to thank the community for their patience and cooperation. Thank you to all our law enforcement personnel and community builders/partners for their dedication and assistance.”