Two people were shot and killed late Friday night, March 13, while in an automobile in the parking lot of Walgreens, 860 State Road A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach, in what St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick said was domestic-violence related.
The suspect was arrested just before 8 a.m. Saturday in Nassau County, according to a report by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
Hardwick identified the suspect as Christian Barrios, 32. Neither the suspect nor the victims were from St. Johns County.
The shooting occurred at 10:30 p.m. Friday night. Deputy sheriffs responded after the Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls reporting that shots had been fired.
The victims were shot multiple times. They were transported to area hospitals but did not survive their injuries.
St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office K9 units tracked the suspect into TPC Sawgrass where THE PLAYERS Championship is under way this week. No tournament play was occurring at the time of the pursuit.
The suspect had multiple contacts with employees and security guards within the TPC Sawgrass property. A burglary at the site is believed to be related to this situation.
St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office swept through the property, receiving aid from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department and the St. Augustine City Police Department. Law enforcement personnel were able to track the suspect through items they believe he dropped.
“We were doing hand-in-hand all night long with PGA TOUR staff,” Hardwick said at an early morning press conference. “We appreciate their partnership … They have been with us all night long. Of course, with the understanding that 50,000 people are going to dump into this exact area this morning.”
As the night unfolded, the Sheriff’s Office learned that a dark-colored BMW had been stolen. The tag number was entered into the national crime information system, and the vehicle was seen by members of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office in the northwestern part of that county.
Deputies pursued the vehicle, which crashed into the woodline.
K9 units from Nassau County and St. Johns County sheriff’s offices tracked Barrios into the woods and quickly located him at County Road 108, just south of Middle Road near Callahan. Barrios was apprehended and taken into custody without incident.
According to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Barrios is charged with two counts of first-degree murder (no bond), burglary of an occupied dwelling ($200,000 bond), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon ($100,000 bond), Shooting into a conveyance ($100,000 bond), and grand theft of a motor vehicle ($100,000 bond).
Hardwick said the suspect had a criminal history with about 27 arrests.
He said the suspect was out of prison on probation, which he called “embarrassing,” adding, “It makes me sick to my stomach. But he picked the wrong county. He’ll be held accountable in St. Johns County.”
Meanwhile, THE PLAYERS delayed the gate opening until 9 a.m. Friday, though it didn’t attribute that to the situation. Tee times remained as scheduled, though all on-course hospitality venues delayed opening until 11 a.m.
“We have worked closely with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and appreciate the coordination and partnership from Sheriff Rob Hardwick and his team,” the tournament said in a press release.
