LAKE CITY, Fla. – A 20-year-old Lake City man wanted on gun-related charges was apprehended Friday afternoon by the Lake City Police Department.
Brandon Xavier Penson is being held without bond on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied vehicle and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also charged with violating probation and resisting arrest.
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On Nov. 23, the Lake City Police Department responded to the Lake City Villas at 1335 SW Zesty Circle, regarding a complaint of a shooting that had occurred. According to the victim, Penson, her boyfriend at the time, had opened fire at her as she attempted to flee from his residence after she had broken up with him. Penson missed the victim, but bullets struck her vehicle as she drove away, police said. Penson then fled the scene. Responding officers found bullets, white powder believed at the time to be cocaine, and equipment indicative of narcotic distribution inside his home. Penson was believed to be in possession of a .22 caliber handgun and an AK-47 rifle.
Over the last two days, the LCPD received information from three independent sources that Penson was hiding in a residence at 843 NE Catawba St. in Lake City. Around 4 p.m. Friday, after further investigation, LCPD's Criminal Investigation Division and Criminal Interdiction Unit, assisted by the Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force, surrounded and entered the home.
Penson, who was inside the home, jumped through a window and fled as officers made entry. He ran into the wooded area north of the residence but encountered officers who were waiting at the perimeter. He attempted to outrun them but was unsuccessful. After a brief scuffle, Penson was apprehended without any injuries.
A search of Penson found no weapons, but he was in possession of approximately six homemade pills believed to be "Mollies" (ecstasy powder) and a bag full of empty capsules with white powder residue. Penson was transported to the Columbia County Detention Facility.
Drug charges against Penson are pending.