Hilliard, FL – The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene of a reported shooting at a Hilliard, FL, residence around 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24th.
The investigation revealed a 5-year-old walked to a neighbor’s house and told the homeowners a male suspect inside the home on West 12th Avenue had killed the residents of the home.
Deputies arrived on scene and found three victims who had been shot and killed inside the house and the suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Christopher Rowell, with an AK-style rifle lying beside him. Once the scene was secured, Nassau County Fire Rescue (NCFR) was called to the address and found Rowell still had a pulse. The suspect was flown to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Investigators and NCSO’s Victim Advocate spoke with the child and later released her to the custody of family members.
“As a grandfather of two young children, my heart aches for this child. This kind of violence against family members, especially in the presence of a child, is beyond comprehension,” said Sheriff Bill Leeper. “I want to thank the deputies and investigators who worked swiftly to secure the scene and ensure the child was in safe hands.”
Although incredibly tragic, this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to the community.
Media Contact:
Public Information Office
Nassau County Sheriff’s Office
pio@nassauso.com
