UPDATE: A double shooting near The Players Championship has left two victims dead and a suspect in custody just hours later. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on March 13, 2025, in the parking lot of a Walgreens located at 860 N. Florida A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Christian Joseph Barrios, a 32-year-old felon on probation, with an alarming history of 27 arrests. St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick expressed his disgust at Barrios’ record, stating, “This thug’s criminal history is embarrassing. It makes me sick to my stomach.”
Both victims were shot multiple times and later died at the scene. Their identities have not yet been released, but Sheriff Hardwick confirmed they were known to each other and are not residents of St. Johns County. The shooting is being investigated as a “domestic violence situation,” although specific details remain unclear.
Barrios was apprehended in Nassau County just hours after the shooting. He celebrated his 32nd birthday on the day of his arrest. According to court records, Barrios was on supervised release for drug offenses, with his probation scheduled to end on August 14, 2027. His criminal history spans various counties, including Duval, Palm Beach, and St. Johns, with sentences for grand theft auto and trafficking in stolen property.
Sheriff Hardwick highlighted the tragic impact of the shooting: “Here we are dumping all these resources, and families are gonna mourn two people that were shot and killed in a parking lot over a domestic violence situation.”
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to release more information as it becomes available. The community is urged to stay vigilant as this developing story unfolds.
This urgent update echoes the need for awareness surrounding domestic violence and its devastating consequences. Share this information to keep your community informed.
