PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — A 32-year-old man shot and killed two people in a drugstore parking lot Friday night before fleeing onto the TPC Sawgrass golf course, prompting authorities to delay fan entry at the Players Championship tournament Saturday morning.
Christian Joseph Barrios was arrested Saturday morning in Nassau County after an overnight manhunt that began when he allegedly killed two victims in a domestic violence shooting at a Walgreens parking lot about 10:30 p.m. Friday. The pharmacy sits roughly one mile from TPC Sawgrass, where the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament was underway. Tournament officials delayed opening gates to thousands of fans from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. as a precautionary measure, though play began on schedule at 8:15 a.m. with golfer Seamus Power taking the first tee time of the day.
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick said Barrios shot both victims multiple times in what he characterized as a domestic violence situation. The victims, whose names have not been released, were rushed to a local hospital where they died from their injuries. “His criminal history is embarrassing,” Hardwick told reporters Saturday morning. “It makes me sick to my stomach. [Barrios] is out of prison again on probation, committing another violent felony.” Hardwick said Barrios knew both victims and had a lengthy criminal record spanning 27 previous arrests, including a 2023 arrest for alleged vehicle theft.
Canine units tracked Barrios onto the expansive TPC Sawgrass property, which includes the tournament golf course, hotels, residential areas and other businesses. Hardwick said the suspect interacted with PGA Tour employees during his escape and picked up a tournament radio before dropping it. “We know he made contact with some employees in there [TPC Sawgrass],” Hardwick said. “He picked up – we believe it was a radio that belonged to the PGA Tour, not one of our radios and we know he dropped it after that. Our canines used it as a scent when they came in there.” After leaving the golf course property, Barrios allegedly stole a black BMW and fled north toward Nassau County.
Nassau County authorities pursued the stolen vehicle and forced it to crash into a wooded area about an hour north of TPC Sawgrass. Barrios fled on foot before officers found him and took him into custody around 8 a.m. Saturday, which happened to be his 32nd birthday. During the manhunt, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office had issued public safety alerts asking residents near County Road 108 and Middle Road to lock their doors and stay inside. “Residents in the area of CR 108 and Middle Road are asked to lock their doors and stay inside. If you see this individual or anything suspicious, do not approach, and call 911,” the alert read. Hardwick said Barrios’s mother cooperated with investigators during the search.
The PGA Tour worked closely with law enforcement to ensure tournament operations could continue safely. “Due to operational considerations, gates for today’s third round will now open at 9 a.m. ET,” read the official tournament statement released Saturday morning. “We have worked closely with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and appreciate the coordination and partnership from Sheriff Rob Hardwick and his team.” Five groups of golfers teed off before fans were permitted entry, with hospitality venues delayed until 11 a.m. The tournament had sold out Saturday’s third round tickets. Despite the proximity of the crime scene to tournament facilities, no players, staff or spectators on the golf course were harmed during the incident.
The violent episode cast a shadow over one of professional golf’s premier events, where Swedish golfer Ludvig Aberg leads the field at 12-under-par heading into the weekend. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who committed to play despite back problems, struggled through the first two rounds and barely made the cut at one-over-par. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, seeking to become the first player to win three consecutive Players titles, also sits at one-over-par. The Players Championship continues through Sunday at TPC Sawgrass, with Aberg and Xander Schauffele scheduled to tee off in the final group at 2:35 p.m. Saturday.
Barrios remains in custody facing multiple charges related to the double homicide, though formal charges have not yet been announced by prosecutors. The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the exact nature of the domestic violence situation that led to the killings. Sheriff Hardwick expressed frustration with the repeat offender’s latest alleged crimes, noting the extensive resources required for the manhunt and the tragedy faced by the victims’ families.
