WARSAW — A Warsaw man was recently arrested after police say he placed a handgun on his lap, told the victim the gun’s safety was off and then hit the victim. All of this occurred while the victim was driving four minor children to school.

Davonte Jerrell Gunn

Davonte Jerrell Gunn, 27, 340 E. Levi Lee Road, apartment 94, Warsaw, is being charged with domestic battery while armed with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; domestic battery with a child under 16 present, a level 6 felony; domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor; and domestic battery with a prior conviction enhancement, a level 6 felony.

On March 18, an officer with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic battery complaint. The victim told the officer that she was preparing to leave the location in her van when Gunn “came out of nowhere” and got into the passenger side of the vehicle. Also inside the van were four minor children.

According to the victim, Gunn entered the vehicle and removed a handgun from his pocket. He then placed the handgun on his lap, telling the victim that the safety was off. While the victim was driving the children to school, Gunn became angry and told her to pull the van over. When the victim stopped the van, she advised that Gunn started hitting her on the head and face. Gunn then took the vehicle’s keys, the victim’s cell phone and exited the vehicle with one of the children.

The officer spoke with one of the children who was present during the altercation. The child confirmed that Gunn had displayed a handgun when he entered the vehicle.

Gunn was previously convicted of domestic battery in St. Joseph County in 2014.

Gunn was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on March 18 and is being held on a $100,750 surety and cash bond.