Search operation causes postponement of gate opening at Players Championship
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — A man shot and killed two individuals in a drug store parking lot close to the TPC Sawgrass and subsequently fled onto the course, prompting The Players Championship to postpone gate openings as a safety measure prior to the third round on Saturday morning, according to officials.
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick reported that the suspect, identified as Christian Barrios, shot two people multiple times around 10:30 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of Walgreens, which he described as a domestic violence incident. The store is situated approximately a mile from the course.
Officials indicated that he was apprehended around 8 a.m. Saturday in Nassau County, the northeasternmost county in Florida, located an hour north of TPC Sawgrass.
The PGA referenced “operational considerations” in their decision to delay the opening of the gates until 9 a.m. The first round commenced as planned at 8:15 a.m., while hospitality areas were postponed until 11 a.m.
Hardwick mentioned that canine units chased Barrios onto the TPC Sawgrass following the shooting. He noted that Barrios, who turned 32 on Saturday, at one point picked up a PGA Tour radio and later discarded it. He then took a black BMW, which Nassau County authorities pursued, leading to a crash in the woods.
The suspect escaped on foot before being located and taken into custody.
Hardwick stated that Barrios had an extensive criminal record and was acquainted with the victims, both of whom were shot multiple times and transported to a hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries.
