(UPDATE: Both the Alachua County Sheriff and Florida Highway Patrol report that the manhunt for the suspect in a crime in Union County ended in an apparent suicide after law enforcement forced the suspect’s vehicle to a stop using a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver.)
ALACHUA COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies shut down I-75 in both directions near Paynes Prairie at around 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026 while in pursuit of a suspect.
At press time, the interstate was still shut down from the Williston Road exit to Micanopy due to a roadblock.
“I-75 south near Paynes Prairie has been shut down due to an active and on-going incident involving our Deputies who are attempting to take an armed and dangerous suspect into custody,” reads a post on the Alachua County Sheriff Facebook page.
“Please stay out of the area and seek an alternate route.”
We will update this story as more information becomes available.