Players Championship Delays Gate Opening Amid Manhunt; Suspect in Double Killing Near TPC Sawgrass Captured
The Players Championship delayed gate openings Saturday as authorities conducted a manhunt after a double killing near TPC Sawgrass. Police identified the suspect as 32‑year‑old Christian Barrios, who allegedly stole a black BMW, briefly entered the course interacting with groundskeepers and security and discarded a PGA Tour radio, fled into Nassau County where he was forced off the road and ran on foot, and was captured just before 8 a.m.; Sheriff Rob Hardwick called Barrios’ criminal record "embarrassing" and officials say the shootings are being treated as a domestic‑violence incident.
📌 Key Facts
- The Players Championship delayed gate opening amid a manhunt for a double-murder suspect near TPC Sawgrass.
- The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Christian Barrios.
- Barrios allegedly interacted with groundskeepers and security on the TPC Sawgrass grounds and briefly picked up and discarded a PGA Tour radio.
- He allegedly stole a black BMW, fled into Nassau County, was forced off the road, ran on foot and was captured by Nassau County authorities just before 8 a.m. Saturday.
- Sheriff Rob Hardwick described Barrios' criminal record as 'embarrassing' and said the shootings are being investigated as a domestic-violence incident.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2024, St. Johns County, Florida, has a population of 334,928, which represents a 22.5% increase from April 1, 2020, with racial and ethnic composition of 86.3% White alone, 5.7% Black alone, 5.0% Asian alone, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, 2.5% Two or More Races, and 9.7% Hispanic or Latino.
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: St. Johns County, Florida — U.S. Census Bureau
In 2022, St. Johns County, Florida, received 1,936 international immigrants, with 856 from Europe, 336 from Central America, and 227 from South America, contributing to the county's population growth.
How many people are moving to St. Johns County from overseas and where are they coming from? — SJCitizen
From 2003 to 2021, 48.2% of female Hispanic or Latino homicide victims with known circumstances in the US were killed in intimate partner violence-related incidents, compared to 6.7% for male Hispanic or Latino victims, with rates highlighting gender disparities within this ethnic group.
Intimate Partner Violence–Related Homicides of Hispanic or Latino Persons — National Violent Death Reporting System, 47 Jurisdictions, 2003–2021 — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Identifies the suspect by name as 32‑year‑old Christian Barrios.
- Details that Barrios allegedly interacted with groundskeepers and security on the TPC Sawgrass grounds and briefly picked up and discarded a PGA Tour radio.
- Clarifies that Barrios stole a black BMW, fled into Nassau County, and was forced off the road before fleeing on foot.
- Reports that Nassau County authorities captured Barrios just before 8 a.m. Saturday.
- Includes Sheriff Rob Hardwick’s characterization of Barrios’ record as an 'embarrassing' criminal history and confirms the shootings are viewed as a domestic‑violence incident.