Christian Barrios, 32, was taken into custody Saturday morning near Callahan following a dramatic overnight manhunt for the suspect in a double homicide in Ponte Vedra Beach.
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Barrios was apprehended just before 8:00 a.m. after deputies performed a vehicle pursuit and foot chase..
The deadly incident began late Friday night at the Walgreens located at 860 A1A North near Palm Valley Road.
Deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office responded around 10:30 p.m. to multiple reports of gunfire in the parking lot.
Upon arrival, they found two individuals who had been shot multiple times. Both victims were transported to local hospitals but later succumbed to their injuries. Officials reported that the shooting appears to have stemmed from a domestic dispute and that Barrios was known to the victims.
Following the shooting, Barrios fled north, crossing Palm Valley Road and entering the TPC Sawgrass property, which houses the PGA Tour headquarters.
Law enforcement officers, including SWAT teams, air units, and drone support, launched an extensive search overnight, coordinating closely with PGA Tour security staff.
Authorities said Barrios approached several people on the property, including workers and security personnel, while attempting to evade capture.
During the manhunt, Barrios allegedly attempted to steal a dark-colored BMW. The vehicle’s license plate was quickly entered into national law enforcement databases, alerting agencies across the region.
Early Saturday, Nassau County deputies located the stolen BMW in the northwest part of the county. When the pursuit began, deputies executed a PIT maneuver, forcing the vehicle off the road and into a wooded area. Barrios fled on foot but was captured shortly afterward without further incident.
St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick said Barrios has roughly 27 prior arrests and was on probation at the time of the shooting. He noted that neither the suspect nor the victims are residents of St. Johns County.
“He’s out of prison again, on probation, committing another violent felony,” Hardwick said.
