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By ANDY STAPLES
The Tampa Tribune
GAINESVILLE - University of Florida offensive lineman Ronnie Wilson was arrested early Thursday morning after he fired a semiautomatic rifle into the air following an argument with a man at a nightclub, according to a Gainesville police report.
Wilson, a potential starter at center or guard, has been suspended indefinitely from the football team, Gators coach Urban Meyer said in a statement. Wilson was charged with using a firearm in the commission of a felony, felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor simple battery. According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Web site, he was still in custody at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
According to the police report, 6-foot-3, 300-pound Wilson told police he fired the gun so the victim would “know how it felt to be scared.” If Wilson is convicted of the charge, he could face as many as 20 years in prison because of Florida’s “10-20-Life” law, which requires a 20-year sentence for someone who fires a gun during the commission of a felony.
According to the report, Wilson and “several other large males” approached Francis Fuller at about 1:30 a.m. at XS nightclub. Wilson, according to the report, accused Fuller of spitting on him. Wilson then spit on Fuller and slapped him in the face, according to the report.
At that point, the other men held back Wilson, allowing Fuller to escape. Fuller waited outside the club so he could get Wilson’s license plate number, according to the report.
After Wilson drove away in his vehicle, the victim followed. Fuller called police and stayed on the phone with a dispatcher as he followed Wilson. At some point, according to the report, Wilson pulled into the parking lot of Gainesville Health Care Center. Fuller told police that when he turned a corner, he saw Wilson walk to the trunk and remove a semi-automatic rifle. Fuller ducked in the driver’s seat and reversed his vehicle. He told police he heard a gunshot as he reversed his vehicle.
Later, according to the report, Wilson went to a nearby apartment complex and hid the rifle under his cousin’s bed. Police officers later discovered the rifle and the magazine.
Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@tampatrib.com.
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