Manatee sheriff says man killed three women, died in shooting

BRADENTON, Fla. – Manatee County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating what prompted a man to shoot and kill three women, including his mother.

It all started around 9:15 p.m. on Monday at the Motel 6 on 67th Street Circle East in Bradenton. Officials said they were called to the motel and found a 48-year-old woman dead. She had been shot.

Witnesses told officers that 28-year-old Javontee Brice came to the motel, shot his mother “for unknown reasons” and then left the motel, possibly heading toward Georgia.

Less than half an hour later, officers said they were called to 26th Street Court East near 9th Avenue Drive East in Palmetto at around 9:40 p.m. A 29-year-old woman had been shot while sitting in a parked SUV. When officers arrived, Palmetto police said they were trying to save her life. The woman died about an hour later, the sheriff’s office said.

Brice was also identified by witnesses as the shooter, officials said.

Shortly after 10 p.m., officials said they learned of another shooting in Bradenton on 55th Street West near 8th Avenue Drive West. Bradenton police were on the scene and reportedly learned that Brice was also responsible for shooting a third woman before driving away. She later died at the hospital.

A statewide BOLO was issued for Brice’s car and several law enforcement agencies joined forces to track Brice down to Hamilton County, not far from the Florida-Georgia border, the sheriff’s office said.

Bride was shot and killed around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning after reportedly exchanging gunfire with Hamilton County Sheriff’s officers.

Investigators believe Brice traveled to Georgia with the intention of killing a fourth person.