Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ja’zier Antonio Myers, 21, has been found guilty by a jury of two counts of homicide and one count of attempted homicide for a July 2023 shooting near Checkers on W. University Avenue. Myers had previously entered a plea of nolo contendere to a charge of possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent (juvenile conviction).
On July 30, 2023, Gainesville Police Department officers who were in the area of 900 W. University Avenue for crowd control heard multiple gunshots at about 2:42 a.m. and found three people who had been shot. One victim who later died was found in front of Checkers, 912 W. University Avenue, and a second victim was found in the same area, flagging down officers. A third victim, who was shot first, was found deceased in front of Bodytech, 806 W. University Avenue.
Surveillance video reportedly showed Myers walking near the third victim at about 2:40 a.m. and showed Myers shooting the victim in the head at close range as they passed Bodytech.