19-year-old Faces Multiple Charges After Arrest With Automatic Weapon

Lagarius Joseph Johnson, 19, was arrested late Friday night and charged with six offenses related to weapons and drugs, including possessing a stolen Glock with an attachment that allows it to fire automatically.

According to Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies, Johnson was seen in the Majestic Oaks area (5800 SW 20th Avenue) spreading out a huge amount of cash and showing it to several black males. Deputies were informed that Johnson possessed a firearm; not only is he too young to lawfully own a pistol, but he also has many juvenile crimes, including possession of a firearm by a minor under 18, which prevent him from possessing a firearm until he is 24 years old.

A deputy and a K-9 team approached Johnson and reportedly told him to get on the ground; Johnson then went into his jacket pocket for a revolver and fled on foot through the complex. Johnson was apparently carrying a rucksack when deputies approached him, which he dropped as he fled.

A K-9 was dispatched to catch Johnson, who allegedly pulled out a Glock 47 while the K-9 was apprehending him. When Johnson was apprehended, the Glock was reportedly located approximately five feet away; the pistol had a round in the chamber, an extended magazine with 23 rounds of ammo, and an adapter that allows the Glock to operate fully automatic. A Glock was reported stolen in Alachua in December 2023.

A search that led to an arrest reportedly yielded $419 in cash. The backpack reportedly contained 38.5 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and several baggies.

Johnson has been charged with possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm by a delinquent under 24 (a juvenile who has previously been convicted of a felony charge), grand theft of a firearm, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of drug equipment, and resisting an officer without violence.

Johnson has juvenile convictions for car burglary, burglary of an unoccupied residence, grand theft, and minor possession of a firearm under the age of 18. He has an adult felony conviction (violent) for beating a detention officer and was sentenced to 270 days in jail with adjudication of guilt withheld; another charge of battering a detainee was withdrawn as part of the plea agreement.

Judge Thomas Jaworski placed the bond at $145,000.