Three hours after the second round of The Players Championship on Friday, two people were shot to death in a parking lot not far from TPC Sawgrass. The suspect in the shooting briefly fled to the PGA Tour venue before fleeing the area in a stolen car. An investigation into the incident forced the postponement of Saturday’s game.
St. Johns County, Florida, Sheriff Rob Hardwick revealed the information during a briefing early Saturday morning, noting that the two people shot died at a nearby hospital. The suspect fled into the PGA Tour grounds, encountered several employees, and then hijacked a BMW. He continued to flee, then fled on foot as nearby Nassau County police destroyed the vehicle. As of early Saturday morning reports, the suspect was still at large.
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Hardwick said it was a domestic crime and the suspect knew both victims, and Hardwick identified the suspect as Christian Joseph Barrios. Local media reported that Barrios, 32, has a long criminal record and has been arrested in at least 27 people. Barrios is currently out of prison on probation.
The incident occurred at a Walgreens restaurant not far from the golf course, where local dispatchers received reports of multiple shootings.
“Due to operational considerations, today’s third round will open at 9 a.m.,” the PGA Tour said in a statement. “We are working closely with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and would like to thank Sheriff Rob Hardwick and his team for their coordination and cooperation. Please note that tee times will remain as scheduled and all on-course hospitality venues will open at 11 a.m.”
