3 white supremacist supporters arrested in UF area shooting

GAINESVILLE– Three Texas men who turned out to support white supremacist Richard Spencer’s speech at the University of Florida were identified on Friday as suspects in a shooting involving protesters a short distance from campus.

Tyler Tenbrink, 28, William Fears, 30 and Colton Fears, 28, all face attempted homicide charges from a shooting that involved a group of protesters who were sitting at a Gainesville bus stop.

They told Gainesville police detectives a silver Jeep sport utility vehicle pulled up to them and one of the passengers began to praise Adolph Hitler. One of the protesters used a baton to bash the back window of the Jeep and Tenbrink, of Richmond, Texas, pulled out a handgun and fired a round.

William and Colton Fears, both of Pasadena, Texas, told Tenbrink to kill them, according to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office report. No one was injured.

More:Scattered violence outside speech by white supremacist Richard Spencer

Protesters shout down Richard Spencer inside Phillips Center at UF

The shooting occurred about 6 p.m. Alachua deputies caught up to the Jeep on Interstate 75 about 8:30 p.m. and made the arrest. A handgun was found inside the vehicle, the report stated.

The three men were among the first to arrive at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday as protesters began to march. Spencer’s supporters were outnumbered by the throngs of people who came out to voice opposition toward the Alternative Right Movement.

Shortly before leaving an area in front of the Phillips center, William Fears told reporters he was not afraid to start violence, if necessary.

“I’m not saying I’ll do it, but if it needs to happen, why not?” Fears told the USA Today Network. “If it’s necessary.”