Joshua Gaskins

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office charged Joshua Gaskins with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple battery on Saturday around 7 p.m. in Live Oak.

According to a SCSO report, the victim told police he was drinking a beer outside his home before going inside to see what his roommate, Gaskins, was cooking for dinner.

When the victim asked what he was cooking, Gaskins allegedly turned around with a beer bottle and struck him on top of the victim’s head for no reason, the report states.

The victim fell to his knees and grabbed Gaskins leg in self-defense. According to the report, the victim told police Gaskins struck him in the head again with the beer bottle.

Gaskins then grabbed a butcher’s knife off of the kitchen counter and swung it at the victim’s neck, according to the report.

After allegedly cutting the victim, he slammed the knife back on the kitchen counter and said, “Hold on, I have something for you.” The victim told police Gaskins left the room and returned with a machete.

Gaskins said he was going to kill the victim and chased him with the machete through the home and outside to a dirt road, according to the report.

The victim managed to make it back inside and called police. When police arrived, they found Gaskins asleep on the couch with the machete in reaching distance, the report states.

The victim had a small cut on his forehead, along with two welts, according to the report.

Gaskins was arrested and taken to Suwannee County Jail.