GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A convicted felon was arrested early Tuesday morning after deputies say he struck a man with a firearm during an armed disturbance at a residence in Gainesville.
According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded during the early morning hours of May 19, 2026, to a home in the 2900 block of Southeast 15th Avenue.
Investigators said witnesses told deputies they had been speaking with 30-year-old Clark Adam Hobbs when Hobbs became agitated and left the area.
Authorities said Hobbs later returned carrying a firearm equipped with a laser and allegedly pointed the laser at the victim.
According to investigators, the victim grabbed a baseball bat in self-defense before Hobbs allegedly struck the victim with the gun.
Deputies said Hobbs then threw the firearm into a pile of items outside the residence.
A witness reportedly intervened and pinned Hobbs to the ground to prevent him from regaining access to the weapon until deputies arrived.
Investigators said deputies observed injuries on the victim consistent with being struck and recovered the firearm equipped with the laser attachment.
Authorities also learned Hobbs was a convicted felon from Olmsted County with a prior burglary conviction.
Hobbs was arrested and charged with:
- Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon