What started as a late-night argument over a pool table at a Jacksonville neighborhood bar turned into a shooting that left one man in the hospital and two people in handcuffs, according to police.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the trouble broke out around 3 a.m. on May 12 at the New Neighborhood Tavern, after a dispute over who was next up to play. The quarrel spilled outside to 15 Century St., where a man was shot twice in the abdomen. He was taken to a local hospital and listed in stable condition, and detectives said he has been cooperating with the investigation, according to Action News Jax.
Arrests and charges
After what investigators described as a months-long investigation, detectives arrested 42-year-old Dennis Williams and 38-year-old Antoinette Upshaw in connection with the shooting. A review of prior incident reports and a photo lineup helped point detectives toward Williams, and an arrest affidavit, along with surveillance footage, described two people struggling over a handgun before the victim ran from the scene, according to News4JAX.
Williams is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a second-degree felony, and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony. His bond was set at $200,006. A local arrest warrant for Upshaw was issued on July 16, and the U.S. Marshals Service took her into custody at her home on July 22. She is charged with attempted murder in the second degree, a first-degree felony, and her bond was set at $500,000, according to the same outlet.
How investigators say the shooting unfolded
According to the arrest affidavit, the chaos started with a verbal argument over whose turn it was at the pool table. Investigators say a male suspect then pulled a small handgun, and the victim lunged for it. The two fell to the floor, wrestling over the weapon in what quickly turned into a life-or-death struggle.
While the victim was on the ground, a second person approached and opened fire, according to detectives. A witness told investigators he tried to grab and hold the gun, then heard additional shots and bolted to a back room. Business surveillance cameras reportedly captured both the pursuit and the gunfire, giving detectives a clearer timeline of those frantic moments.
Legal implications and next steps
Both suspects are expected to face arraignment in Duval County as prosecutors review the case file and arrest paperwork, according to Action News Jax. Upshaw’s attempted murder charge is being pursued as a first-degree felony. Williams’ firearm charge stems from a prior felony conviction that makes it illegal for him to possess a gun. Both cases will move forward through the local court system.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it has increased manpower and targeted patrols in the district in the wake of the shooting. Detectives are still asking anyone with information to come forward. The case remains an active investigation as prosecutors prepare the next round of filings.
