Florida man allegedly shot, injured estranged girlfriend and killed man she was with
06/26/2023 2:46 pm PDT
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fla. (TCD) -- A 23-year-old man is in custody after allegedly shooting and killing a 23-year-old man and injuring his 21-year-old estranged girlfriend over the weekend.
On Saturday, June 24, the Clay County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a shooting at a home on State Road 100. At the scene, deputies found a male victim in the driveway suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and Clay County Fire Rescue pronounced him dead at the scene.
According to the Sheriff's Office, authorities also located a female victim with an apparent gunshot wound and transported her to a local hospital to treat her injuries.
The female victim reportedly identified the shooter as her estranged boyfriend, John Thornton, but he fled the scene before deputies arrived. The Clay County Sheriff's Office notified local law enforcement agencies about the suspect's vehicle, and officials from the Bradford County Sheriff’s Department later located Thornton's car and took him into custody.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office alleged the two victims would occasionally allow Thornton to stay in their home. He and the female victim were reportedly estranged because of domestic violence.
On the day of the shooting, the Sheriff's Office said Thornton "arrived uninvited," and the two victims ordered him to leave. When Thornton tried to enter the home again, he allegedly pulled out a gun and shot his estranged girlfriend and the male victim.
Thornton was booked into the Clay County Jail on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder. He remains held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court July 24.
In a statement, Sheriff Michelle Cook said, "The victims were trying to help a friend and sadly became the target of the suspect."
MORE:
TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page for podcasts, exclusive videos, and more, and don’t forget to follow us on TikTok.
