Fatal shooting near Sawgrass delays opening of gates at Players Championship | PGA Tour
Police captured a man they say killed two people Friday night about a mile from TPC Sawgrass. The incident led The Players Championship to delay opening the gates to the public for the third round by a few hours.
St Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick said the suspect, who he identified as Christian Barrios, shot two people multiple times around 10:30 p.m. Friday in the Walgreens parking lot in a domestic violence situation. The store is located about a kilometer from the course.
He said canine units chased Barrios to the TPC Sawgrass property. Hardwick said Barrios, who turned 32 on Saturday, at one point picked up a PGA Tour radio and then dropped it. He then stole a black BMW and authorities in Nassau County, in far northeast Florida, chased the car and forced it to crash in the woods. The suspect fled on foot before being found and taken into custody.
The PGA cited “operational considerations” in deciding not to open the gates until 9 a.m. The third round started at 8:15 a.m. and was not delayed. Reception areas were delayed until they opened at 11am.
Hardwick said Barrios had a long criminal history and knew the victims, both of whom were shot multiple times and taken to the hospital where they died.
