Hawthorne Man Threatens Store Employees with Gun

HAWTHORNE ‒ James Edward Harkins III, 36, of Hawthorne, was arrested on Sunday, June 11, and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly threatening two store employees with a gun on June 6.

Harkins allegedly asked the two employees, who work for an auto services business in the 2900 block of Northeast 21^st Way, to do something that was a safety concern for the employees and against their employer’s policies.

The employees refused to provide the service, which reportedly caused Harkins to become upset. He reportedly got into his car and drove out of the gates of the business but then walked back through the gates, where the employees told him to stop.

Harkins allegedly reached into his pocket and took out a gun, then racked the slide back and pointed it at the two employees. At that point; both employees retreated and called 911. The employees made a note of Harkins’ tag number as he drove away.

A witness exiting the store as Harkins tried to come back in through the gate corroborated the employees’ story.

Harkins has a juvenile criminal history and three non violent misdemeanor convictions.

Judge Walter Green set bail at $70,000 at first appearance. According to Alachua County Jail records, Harkins has since been released.

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