Gainesville Walmart Evacuated After Gunfire

GAINESVILLE, Florida – A tense standoff unfolded at a Walmart Supercenter in Gainesville’s Butler Plaza on Saturday morning when a woman fired gunshots from a trailer in the store’s parking lot which caused the evacuation of the store and nearby businesses.

Around 7:50 AM, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers were dispatched to the Walmart at 2900 SW 42nd Street following reports of suspicious activity and witness accounts of gunfire emanating from a trailer in the parking lot.

Upon arrival, officers established a perimeter around the trailer and the store, evacuating Walmart and adjacent businesses to ensure public safety. The GPD SWAT team and Negotiations Team were deployed to communicate with the barricaded suspect.

Authorities confirmed that the woman inside the trailer fired shots during the incident, though no one was harmed. The scene remained contained throughout the standoff, with police urging the community to avoid the area for their safety and that of first responders.

The situation was resolved after several hours of negotiations, culminating in the woman’s arrest.

The collaborative effort involved support from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO), University of Florida Police Department (UPD), Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR), and Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR).