Three women lost their lives in separate shootings on June 24, 2024, in Bradenton, Florida. The alleged perpetrator, 28-year-old Javontee Brice, was fatally wounded following a shootout with deputies in Georgia. Brice is suspected of killing his mother, cousin, and another woman before his death.
The victims, as revealed by the Bradenton Police Department, were 48-year-old Titinysha Scott, 29-year-old Sacouya Starquez Jonquila Brice, and 27-year-old Charel Jones.
The spree of violence initiated at a Motel 6 in Bradenton. Brice allegedly shot his mother, Titinysha Scott. Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells disclosed that Brice entered the motel room, apologized to his mother, and then shot her three times in the presence of her boyfriend and two younger daughters.
In a news briefing, Sheriff Wells outlined the series of events, stating that the violence started at an apartment in Palmetto, Florida, where Brice is reported to have threatened his former girlfriend. Following intervention from his sister, Brice left for the motel where the first murder took place.
At approximately 9:40 p.m., deputies responded to another shooting in Palmetto. Sacouya Starquez Jonquila Brice, the suspect’s cousin, was found shot in a stationary SUV. She had been leaving a cookout when Brice approached and shot her, leading to her death about an hour later.
Brice’s violent behavior continued as he targeted Charel Jones, his former girlfriend’s new partner. Jones succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital. It was later discovered during the investigation that Brice intended to travel to Georgia to harm another ex-girlfriend.
Following a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert, Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies spotted Brice’s vehicle. Around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Brice engaged the deputies in a shootout. “Brice got out of the car shooting at deputies,” Sheriff Wells confirmed. No deputies were harmed during the incident.
The investigation continues as authorities assemble the pieces of Brice’s motives. “He seemed to have an agenda. He knew exactly who he wanted to kill,” said Wells. Investigators are also questioning a woman who accompanied Brice during his rampage. Brice, a father of 12, may have been targeting his ex-girlfriends and female family members.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting a separate investigation into the shootout involving Hamilton County deputies to confirm adherence to established protocols.
The sudden and violent events have distressingly impacted the Bradenton and Palmetto communities. Loved ones and acquaintances of the victims grapple with the tragic loss as authorities persist in their efforts to comprehend what drove Brice to these extreme acts of violence.