Woman kidnapped, raped at gunpoint by stranger, police say

JSO: Billy Ray Gaines charged in carjacking at Northside gas station, attack

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man is charged with carjacking, kidnapping and armed sexual battery in what appeared to be a random attack on a woman at a Northside gas station Sunday night, authorities said.

Billy Ray Gaines was arrested following a police chase early Monday morning, several hours after the attack was reported, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Gaines, 20, is also charged with fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement and resisting an officer without violence.

According to his arrest report, a woman was at a gas station on Lem Turner Road, just north of the Trout River, about 11:30 p.m. Sunday when an unknown man, who was later identified by police as Gaines, put a gun to the woman's back and told her to get in the passenger's seat of her SUV.

Police said he drove to an unknown location, where he raped her at gunpoint.

Gaines then drove the woman to a house and let her out, police said. As he drove off in her vehicle, according to the arrest report, he texted her to say where she could find it. 

She called police and an advisory to be on the lookout, or BOLO, for the woman's SUV was put out. The arrest report states a patrolman spotted the SUV on Golfair Boulevard near Interstate 95 about 3:30 a.m. Monday, turned on his lights and sirens, and a pursuit began.

Police said several other officers joined the pursuit and chased the vehicle to West 20th Street, off of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, where Gaines crashed the SUV into a fence and drove into a vacant lot.

That's where police said the SUV got stuck in the mud and Gaines ran off, ignoring commands from police. The arrest report notes a foot chase ensued and Gaines was apprehended shortly thereafter. 

Rio Harvey, who lives nearby, told News4Jax that "it's kind of terrible" to think that happened right outside his window. 

 

"That just don't make no sense, to be honest," Harvey said Tuesday. 

 

The arrest report states Gaines was booked into the Duval County jail after the woman picked him out of a lineup. She was taken to a women's crisis center to get treatment. 

Gaines made his first appearance in court Tuesday morning. He was ordered held without bond. 

According to online jail records, Jacksonville police have arrested Gaines six times in two years, on charges that include battery and selling drugs.

Rape crisis resources

There are resources available if you or someone you know is the victim of rape. To speak with someone immediately, call the 24-hour rape crisis hotline at 904-721-7273.

  • The Women's Center of Jacksonville at 5644 Colcord Ave. is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Baker County residents can visit the Macclenny location at 418 S. 8th St. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • In Fernandina Beach, the Barnabas Center offers crisis assistance at 1303 Jasmine St. from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
  • Also in Nassau County, Micah's Place is available for crisis assistance at 904-225-9979.

About the Author:

Lifetime Jacksonville resident anchors the 8 and 9 a.m. weekday newscasts and is part of the News4Jax I-Team.