Gainesville men charged with attempted murder for hitting man with metal pipe

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Two Gainesville men are charged with armed robbery and attempted murder after police say they stole another man's bank card and then beat him with a metal pipe.

According to the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, 28-year-old Jontavious Alston stole the victim's bank card at Grace Marketplace in the late evening and early morning hours of June 3 and 4.

Officers said Alston then repeatedly struck the victim on the head, stomach and arms with the metal pipe, causing the victim to suffer life-threatening injuries.

Alston and co-defendant Michael Fields, 57, then fled after forcing the victim to give them the PIN for the card.

Alston and Fields then went to an ATM at a Circle K in Waldo and later that day to another ATM, where they withdrew a total of $250, according to records.

According to officials, the victim was beaten so severely that he was in critical condition for several days and suffered facial, rib and arm fractures that required multiple surgeries.

Due to his injuries, the victim was unable to speak about the incident until June 25. He stated that the perpetrators of the robbery and beating lived at Grace Marketplace.

During two interviews with a witness on July 1 and 2, the witness stated that they drove both Alston and Fields from Grace Marketplace to Circle K on the night of the incident.

The witness also stated that Alston tried to use the bank card at the Circle K but was unable to do so, so Fields went in to help.

On July 30, officers said they questioned Alston in another case, but identified him and Fields on surveillance video from Circle K.

However, Alston said the witness drove with him and Fields to the Circle K so Alston could help Fields check his account balance since Fields did not know how to use an ATM.

In an interview conducted on August 7, another witness who knew Alston and Fields said both were involved in abusing the victim and stealing his bank card.

On August 13, Fields was interviewed by detectives. He said he saw Alston beating the victim the night of the incident and he identified both himself and Alston from the Circle K surveillance video.

However, Fields denied any involvement in the incident and stated that he only went to Alston to dissuade him from stealing the bank card.

Alston and Fields were both arrested and charged with armed robbery and attempted murder and are currently in the Alachua County Jail.

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