Florida Man Guns Down Three Women, Including His Mother, in Separate Shootings Within One Hour: Police Report

A man is dead after allegedly embarking on a "killing spree" that claimed the lives of three women—his mother, his cousin, and his ex-girlfriend's new partner—in separate shootings across Florida.

The tragic events began on Monday night when 28-year-old Javontee Brice went to an apartment in Palmetto where his sister and ex-girlfriend were present, as explained by Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells

"He looked at his ex-girlfriend and said, 'I have to kill you,'" Sheriff Wells recounted. 

Miraculously, Brice's sister managed to calm him down and dissuade him from harming his ex-girlfriend. 

"She later informed investigators that he was acting very strange," Wells added.

Brice then proceeded to a Motel 6 in Bradenton, where his mother, two young sisters, and the mother's boyfriend were staying. 

According to the sheriff, around 9:15 p.m., Brice entered the motel room, approached his mother, and said, "I'm sorry." 

"She asked, 'What did you do?' and he shot her three times right in front of the boyfriend and those two innocent young girls," Wells detailed.

Following this, Brice drove to a house in Palmetto where his cousin was attending a cookout. 

He allegedly shot his cousin as she was getting into her car to leave, around 9:40 p.m. 

The 29-year-old cousin succumbed to her injuries approximately an hour later, the sheriff stated.

Brice's next stop was a home in Bradenton, where another ex-girlfriend resided with her new partner. 

At about 10:04 p.m., Brice allegedly shot and killed her.

In response to these heinous acts, the sheriff's office issued a statewide "Be On the Lookout" bulletin for Brice's vehicle. 

The car was eventually tracked to Hamilton County, near the Georgia state line.

Authorities believed Brice "possibly had another ex-girlfriend" in Georgia and might have been heading there to harm her as well, according to Sheriff Wells. 

Around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, officers in Hamilton County pulled Brice over. 

Upon exiting his car, Brice started firing at the officers, prompting them to return fire, which resulted in his death.

A woman was with Brice during the traffic stop and is currently being interviewed. 

"We don't know her relation to him at this point, but she was in the car when the shootout occurred," Wells said.

Brice's family is profoundly shaken by the loss of the mother and cousin, but investigators aim to speak with the relatives to uncover what Brice "may have been experiencing in the days leading up to these events." 

"He seemed to have a clear agenda; he knew exactly who he wanted to kill and had no trouble locating them," Wells noted. 

"We don't know what triggered this man's rampage or why he chose to kill his loved ones," the sheriff concluded. 

"We may never know, but our investigation will continue."

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