BRADENTON, Fla. – The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a tragic shooting spree that occurred on Monday night, resulting in the deaths of three women. The incident unfolded at a Motel 6 on 68th Street Circle East in Bradenton around 9:15 p.m, where deputies responded to find a 48-year-old woman fatally shot.
Deputies were informed that 28-year-old Javontee Brice was the perpetrator who arrived at the motel and shot his mother before fleeing the scene, possibly heading towards Georgia. Shortly after, at around 9:40 p.m., authorities were alerted to another shooting in Palmetto where a 29-year-old woman was shot while inside a parked SUV on 26th Street Court East. Despite efforts to save her, the woman succumbed to her injuries an hour later.
The search for Brice continued, as it was reported that another shooting took place around 10 p.m. in Bradenton on 55th Street, where a woman was shot before Brice fled the scene. Tragically, the woman passed away at a nearby hospital.
Following a statewide alert for Brice’s vehicle, law enforcement agencies tracked him to Hamilton County near the state line, where he was subsequently shot and killed by deputies after firing at them around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Investigators later discovered that Brice was intending to travel to Georgia with the intention of targeting another individual.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the motive behind the shooting spree, which shocked the community and left three families devastated by the loss of their loved ones. The tragic events serve as a grim reminder of the impact of gun violence, prompting discussions about mental health and the root causes of such senseless acts of violence. The authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.