GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A man wanted on a felony drug warrant was fatally shot Tuesday morning, July 29, 2025, after an hours-long standoff during which he fired multiple rounds at deputies from inside a Gainesville apartment.
At approximately 7:49 a.m., the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Unit arrived at 102 NW 9th Terrace to serve a warrant on 44-year-old Samuel Edgardo Rivera for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Investigators had received information that Rivera was staying at the residence with his girlfriend.
A resident confirmed Rivera was inside. Deputies announced their presence and issued commands for Rivera to exit the apartment. When no response came, deputies entered the residence. After Rivera’s girlfriend exited a back bedroom, deputies believed Rivera remained inside. Moments later, a gunshot was fired from the room in the direction of the deputies.
Deputies withdrew and established a perimeter. Multiple agencies—including the Gainesville Police Department, University of Florida Police Department, and specialized units from ACSO—responded to the scene. Nearby buildings were evacuated and a portion of University Avenue was shut down for public safety.
Negotiators spent hours urging Rivera to surrender. At 11:02 a.m., SWAT deployed non-lethal chemical agents. Rivera responded by firing additional shots at deputies through a side window. He was seen exiting the bedroom into the living room while armed and later pointing a handgun at deputies from a front window. A SWAT deputy fired a single shot, striking Rivera. He died at the scene.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation. The deputy who discharged his weapon has been placed on administrative leave, per standard protocol.
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