Man killed in shootout with deputies after killing mom, 2 other women in Manatee County shooting spree

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A man was killed in a shootout with deputies near the Florida-Georgia line after deputies said he killed his mom and two other women in Manatee County on Monday night.

In a press conference Tuesday morning, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said investigators believe the events began at the Palmetto Trace Apartments before 9 p.m. Inside was the suspect’s sister and one of the mothers of his many children.

The sheriff said the suspect, 28-year-old Javontee Brice, walked into the apartment and told his ex-girlfriend, “I have to kill you.” The sister was able to talk him out of shooting the ex-girlfriend, who later told investigators he was acting strange.

Around 9:15 p.m., deputies said they were called to a shooting at the Motel 6 on 68th Street Circle East in Bradenton. When they arrived, they found Brice’s 48-year-old mother dead from a gunshot wound.

Witnesses told deputies that Brice came to the motel, told his mother, Titimysha Scott, “I’m sorry”, and shot her three times in front of his mother’s boyfriend and Brice’s two young sisters. He shot her for unknown reasons, then fled the area, possibly heading to Georgia, according to the sheriff’s office.

Around 9:40 p.m., deputies said they were called to another shooting in the 900 block of 26th Street Court East in Palmetto. There, Brice’s cousin, Sacouya Starquez Jonquila Brice, 29, was shot while sitting inside a parked SUV while leaving a cookout. Palmetto police officers tried to save the woman’s life, however, she died about an hour later. Witnesses identified Brice as the shooter.

Deputies said they received information that another shooting happened shortly after 10 p.m. i the 4800 block of 55th Street West in Bradenton. Bradenton police officers said they learned this was the home of Brice’s ex-girlfriends and her new partner. He shot the ex-girlfriend’s partner, Charel Carter, 31, before fleeing the area. She later died at a hospital.

Manatee County deputies issued a statewide “be on the lookout” for Brice’s vehicle. Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in tracking Brice to Hamilton County, near the state line.

Around 12:55 a.m., Hamilton County deputies said they found Brice’s car traveling northbound on Interstate 75. Deputies said Brice was in the car with a woman. Deputies conducted a felony traffic stop at an Exon parking lot in Jasper. That’s when they said Brice began firing at them.

Two Hamilton County deputies returned fire, killing Brice. The woman in the car with Brice was not hurt during the incident. She is not facing any charges. The deputies were not injured in the shooting.

Detectives in Manatee County said they learned that Brice was traveling to Georgia with the intent to kill another ex-girlfriend. “He knew exactly who he wanted to kill,” Wells said.

In a press conference Tuesday morning, the sheriff said they don’t know, and may never know, the motive behind this shooting spree. “This family is devastated,” he added.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the deputy-involved shooting, which is a standard procedure. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office will investigate the triple homicide.

This remains an active investigation.

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