Men Giving Nazi Salutes Arrested For Shooting After Richard Spencer Speech: Police

GAINESVILLE, FL — Three men in a silver Jeep, at least two of whom police say have ties to extremist groups, face attempted homicide charges Friday after being involved in an argument with a group of people that resulted in gunfire shortly after white nationalist Richard Spencer's speech at the University of Florida, police said.

According to Gainesville Police, the three men "engaged in an argument with another group of people that turned violent with gunfire." The shooting happened just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday when the men who were in the Jeep stopped to argue with a group of protesters. Police say the men offered Nazi salutes and yelled "Hail Hitler" at the group standing near a bus stop.

In a police report, Gainesville police wrote that one of the victims used a baton to hit the rear window of the vehicle. The victim said the vehicle pulled away approximately 10 feet and then quickly stopped, the police report said. One of the men, Tyler Tenbrink, 28, fired a single shot at the victim, which missed and struck a business, police said.

Also See: Richard Spencer Spoke (And Shouted) At The University Of Florida

While Tenbrink allegedly pulled out the gun, the two other men — brothrs William Fears, 30, and Colton Fears, 28 — were yelling "I'm going to f***ing kill you" and "kill them" and "shoot them," police said. The three men then fled the area.

Tenbrink spoke with The Gainesville Sun earlier in the day and told the paper he had come to Florida to see Spencer speak. The elder Fears also spoke with the Sun and said the man who drove over protesters at the Charlottesville white nationalist rally, killing one and injuring several others, "wasn’t unjustified."

Police said one of the victims was able to get the vehicle tag number and reported it to law enforcement. Due to the Spencer event, police said local, state and federal law enforcement officials were operating in "unified command" and were quickly able to get the information to look for the vehicle.

An off-duty deputy located the vehicle shortly before 9 p.m. on Thursday and three were taken into custody after authorities conducted a "high-risk Felony stop." The victim was able to identify the three men and identified Tenbrink as the one who fired the gunshot, police said. Police say Tenbrink is a convicted felon and faces additional charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

After being read his Miranda rights, police say Tenbrink admitted that he was in the vehicle at the time of the incident and that he fired the shot.

Pictured from left to right: Tyler Tenbrink, William Fears, Colton Fears via Alachua County Jail