Deputies are investigating after they said a man killed three women, including his mother, in a triple homicide Monday night.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said it started around 9 p.m. on June 24 when Javontee Brice, 28, walked into a home at Palmetto Trace Apartments, and threatened his ex-girlfriend, the mother of "one of his many children."
According to Sheriff Wells, Brice told his ex-girlfriend, "I have to kill you." But Brice's sister, who was also at the apartment, talked him out of shooting the woman. The sister told investigators he was acting "strange."
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) said around 9:15 p.m., deputies were then dispatched to a Motel 6 on 67th Street Circle East in Bradenton in response to a shooting. When they arrived, they found the first victim, Brice's 48-year-old mother, who had been fatally shot.
Sheriff Wells said an investigation revealed that Brice's mother, his mother's boyfriend and his two minor sisters were inside the room during the time of the shooting. He added that Brice apologized to his mother before shooting her three times and leaving.
Witnesses also told deputies that they saw Brice arrive at the motel and shoot the victim before fleeing the area and possibly heading to Georgia.
Later, around 9:40 p.m., deputies were dispatched to another shooting in the 900 block of 26th Street Court East in Palmetto. There, they found the second victim, a 29-year-old woman who they later identified as Brice's cousin. She was fatally shot while sitting inside a parked SUV after spending time at a cookout in the area.
Palmetto Police officers were attempting lifesaving measures on the victim when deputies arrived, but she died around an hour later at a hospital. Witnesses again identified Brice as the shooter.
While investigating both cases, deputies were notified of yet another shooting in Bradenton on 56th Street East around 10 p.m., where they later learned that another ex-girlfriend of Brice lived with her new partner.
When they arrived, deputies said Bradenton Police were at the scene and learned Brice fatally shot his ex-girlfriend's partner before fleeing the area. She died at a local hospital.
Manatee County detectives said that they then learned Brice was heading to Georgia with the intent to kill another person, possibly another ex-girlfriend.
A statewide BOLO (Be On The Lookout) was issued for Brice's vehicle, and multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in tracking down Brice, who was in Hamilton County near the state line.
Hamilton County deputies stopped Brice after spotting his car around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. According to Sheriff Wells, Brice immediately exited the car and started shooting at deputies.
Deputies then fired back, fatally shooting Brice. According to officials, he had a woman with him when he was on his way to Hamilton County, who is currently being interviewed.
Sheriff Wells said they are still unsure of a motive and "may never know." They also believe that Brice has 12 kids.
Multiple investigations are still ongoing.
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