Tragedy struck on June 24, 2024 as three women were murdered in individual shootings in Bradenton, Florida. The alleged perpetrator, identified as 28-year-old Javontee Brice, reportedly shot his mother, cousin, and one other woman before being killed by deputies in a Georgia shootout.
The victims, as revealed by the Bradenton Police Department, were Titinysha Scott, 48, Sacouya Starquez Jonquila Brice, 29, and Charel Jones, 27.
The horrifying chain of events began at a Bradenton Motel 6, where Brice is said to have shot his mother, Titinysha Scott. Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells reported that Brice entered the motel room and addressed his mother saying, “I’m sorry.” Upon her questioning, “What did you do?” he allegedly shot her three times in the presence of her boyfriend and two younger daughters.
Sheriff Wells, in a press conference, stated that Brice’s violent spree had started earlier at an apartment in Palmetto, Florida. Allegedly, Brice threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend but was dissuaded by his sister. He then went to the Motel 6, where the first murder took place.
At approximately 9:40 p.m., deputies were summoned to a second shooting in Palmetto. There they discovered Brice’s cousin, Sacouya Starquez Jonquila Brice, fatally wounded in a parked SUV. She had been leaving a cookout when Brice allegedly approached and shot her, leading to her death an hour later.
Brice’s violent streak continued, with his next target being his ex-girlfriend’s new partner, Charel Jones, who was shot and later succumbed to her injuries at a nearby hospital. As the investigation unfolded, it was revealed that Brice was en route to Georgia, intending to kill another ex-girlfriend.
In response to these events, a statewide Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert was broadcast. Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies found Brice’s vehicle and around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, a shootout ensued. Sheriff Wells confirmed, “Brice got out of the car shooting at deputies.” All deputies escaped unharmed.
While authorities are still assembling the puzzle of Brice’s motives, Sheriff Wells noted, “He seemed to have an agenda. He knew exactly who he wanted to kill.” Investigators are also interrogating a woman who accompanied Brice during his deadly actions. Brice, father of 12 children from different women, seemed to have targeted his ex-girlfriends and family members.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shootout involving Hamilton County deputies to ascertain whether all protocols were adhered to.
The shocking incidents have left the Bradenton and Palmetto communities in Florida reeling as the friends and family of the victims grapple with the sudden and brutal loss. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover what led Brice to carry out such horrific acts.
