GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Four men were arrested Friday morning in Gainesville after police said they were involved in a melee on West University Avenue that sent at least one person to the hospital.
Jeff Bowyer, 23, is charged with felony battery, aggravated battery with a firearm, simple battery and grand theft of a firearm. Caleb Sullivan and Jacob Theophile, both 19, are charged with simple battery. Storm Miller, 20, is charged with felony battery and simple battery.
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According to the Gainesville Police Department, Bowyer and a victim got into a physical fight after a heated argument on West University Avenue a few blocks west of North Main Street about 2 a.m. Friday, and several witnesses stepped in to break up the fight.
Police said Bowyer's friends -- Sullivan, Theophile and Miller -- joined the fight and attacked the witnesses.
One of the victims was knocked unconscious, and the men continued to hit and kick him, police said.
Another man grabbed a rifle from a vehicle to get the group to stop beating the man, but Bowery struck that witness, took the rifle from him and then hit the witness, who was on the ground at the time, with the butt of the rifle, police said.
Bowyer and his friends left the scene in a truck and were later stopped a couple miles away on NW 13th Street.
The rifle was found in the truck, police said.
One of the victims was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening injuries.