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'You want this smoke?' Middle school teacher arrested after allegedly showing gun to security guard after being denied entry into gated community
Image source: Polk County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office

'You want this smoke?' Middle school teacher arrested after allegedly showing gun to security guard after being denied entry into gated community

A Florida middle school teacher was arrested after allegedly showing a gun to a security guard after being denied entry into a gated community over the weekend.

What are the details?

Devonta Gilmore — a 31-year-old physical education teacher at Union Academy Magnet School in Bartow — tried to enter the Champions Gate community in Davenport shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday, but a security officer denied him entry because he wasn't on the approved visitor list, Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies told WOFL-TV.

Gilmore was trying to pick up his girlfriend's belongings, authorities told the station.

He reportedly drove to another entrance and tried again to enter the gated community when a security officer also wouldn't let him in, WOFL said.

With that, Gilmore became aggravated and asked the officer, "You want this smoke? You want this smoke? You wanna bump?" authorities told the station, adding that he then pulled a gun from his waistband, showed it to the officer, and placed it in his lap before leaving the area in a black Audi sedan.

WOFL said Gilmore later returned to the gated community but stopped after seeing law enforcement who were investigating the incident at the security booth.

Deputies told the station Gilmore then drove off but was later found hiding behind his vehicle parked outside a Publix store.

Gilmore reportedly told detectives he felt disrespected by not being let into the community and admitted he pulled out a gun and asked, "What, you want to bump?" WOFL reported.

He told detectives "bump" meant physically fighting, the sheriff's office told the station.

Deputies said Gilmore was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault on a security officer, WOFL reported.

Fox News, citing jail records, reported that Gilmore was released after posting bond. The cable network added that Union Academy Magnet School didn't respond to its request for comment.

Gilmore on Wednesday was still listed on the school's website.

Polk County man pulls out gun on security after being denied access to communityyoutu.be

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Dave Urbanski

Dave Urbanski

Sr. Editor, News

Dave Urbanski is a senior editor for Blaze News and has been writing for Blaze News since 2013. He has also been a newspaper reporter, a magazine editor, and a book editor. He resides in New Jersey. You can reach him at durbanski@blazemedia.com.
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